The Psalms of David in English Meter, Psalms · Psalm 37 – Psalm 47

The Psalms of David in English Meter · Psalms · Psalm 37 – Psalm 47

p. 66PSAL. XXXVII.

FRet not thy selfe at wicked men, when great in power they be;

p. 67…vie those that sin commit, …en thou their wealth dost see.

…or as green grasse, and flourishing herbs …re cut and wither away;

…hall their great prosperity soon passe, fade, and decay.

Trust thou therefore in God alone, to do well give thy mind;

… thou have the land as thine, and there sure …ood shalt find.

And in the Lord delight thy selfe; love him with all thy heart;

… then what shall thy heart desire, …e will to thee impart.

Commit thy way unto the Lord, On him by faith depend;

…d he shall bring thine enterprise unto a blessed end.

He shall bring forth thy righteousnes cleare like the shining light:

… judgement that approves thy cause, as noon day shall be bright.

Rest in the Lord, and wait on him, within thee do not fret;

Or him who prospering in his way, successe in sin doth get.

Take heed that thou from anger cease, and causlesse wrath forsake;

…et not thy selfe in any wise, …est evill waies thou take.

For evill doers shall the Lord cut off with his own hand;

p. 68But those that wait upon the Lord, inherit shall the land.

verse 10 For yet a little while, and then the wicked shall not be;

Though thou his place consider well, there him thou shalt not see.

The second part.

verse 11 But yet the meek inherit shall the earth, when sinners fall;

And in great peace abundantly delight themselves they shall.

verse 12 The wicked man against the just his crafty plots doth lay;

He g…sheth on him with his teeth, as if he would him slay.

verse 13 The Lord shall laugh at him, when thus his plots prepared be:

For that his day, his day of griefe is coming he doth see.

verse 14 The wicked man hath drawne his sword, and he hath bent his bow;

The man upright in life to kill; the poore to overthrow.

verse 15 But their own swords through their own hearts the Lord shal make to pass;

And every bow shall broken be, which thus ill bended was.

verse 16 A little that one righteous man enjoyes, is better farre,

Then unto many wicked men their plenteous riches are.

verse 17 For God shall into pieces break the sinners armes and might:

p. 69But he in safety shall preserve, and stablish the upright.

verse 18 The blessed daies of righteous men the Lord doth-know and see;

He knowes that their inheritance shall everlasting be.

verse 19 And they shall not in evill times ashamed be for need:

For in the daies of famine them the Lord shall fill and feed.

verse 20 The wicked, and Gods enemies all shall utterly decay;

They shall consume as fat of lambs, and like smoak passe away.

The third part.

verse 21 The wicked borroweth, but the same againe he doth not pay;

Whereas the righteous mercy shewes, and gives his owne away.

verse 22 For such as blessed be of God inherit shall the land;

But they that cursed be of him shall perish by his hand.

verse 23 By the great Lord the good mans steps are ordered, and set right:

For in the path of righteous men he greatly doth delight.

verse 24 And though he fall, yet utterly cast downe he shall not lye;

Because the Lord with his right hand upholds him graciously.

verse 25 I have been young, and now am old, yet never seen I have

p. 70The just forsaken, nor his seed like beggers bread to crave.

verse 26 But he is ever mercifull, and lends to those that need;

And after him a blessing leaves unto his blessed seed.

verse 27 Therefore from evill for depart, do righteously and well;

And through Gods mercy then be sure for evermore to dwell.

verse 28 For God loves judgement, and … Sain… no time forsaketh he;

Preserv'd still are they, but cut off the sinners race shall be.

The fourth part.

verse 29 The man that righteous is and just, inherit shall the land;

And in the same his dwelling place shall ever stedfast stand.

verse 30 The righteous with his mouth to speal of wisdome doth delight:

His tongue of judgment doth discourse, he loves to speak the right.

verse 31 The holy Law of his great God is written in his heart;

So that his goings do not slide, nor steps away depart.

verse 32 The wicked for the righteous man doth watch as for a prey:

He hates him so, that cruelly he seeketh him to slay.

verse 33 But the good Lord will never leave the just man in his hands;

p. 71The righteous will he not condemne, when he in judgement stands.

verse 34 Wait thou on God, & keep his way, thou shalt exalted be

The earth t' inherit, and the fall of wicked men shalt see.

verse 35 The wicked very great in power, and dreadfull I have seen;

I saw him spreading out himselfe, like to a Laurell green.

verse 36 But suddenly he past away, and him could no man see:

Yea, though I sought him narrowly, yet found he could not be.

verse 37 But mark the perfect, and behold the man that righteous is:

For thou shalt see that this mans end is surely peace and blisse.

verse 38 But the transgressors wofully shall be destroi'd together:

This is the end of wicked men, to be cut off for ever.

verse 39 But the salvation of the just doth come from God above;

Who in their troubles sends them aid, of his meere grace and love.

verse 40 God shall them help, & set them free from lewd men and unjust;

The righteous he shall surely save, because in him they trust.

PSAL. XXXVIII.

LOrd, though thine anger I deserve, in wrath rebuke me not;

p. 72Nor lay on me thy chastning hard in thy displeasure hot.

verse 2 Thine arrowes do stick fast in me, thy hand doth presse me sore:

verse 3 And in my flesh no health at all appeareth any more.

This griefe I have, because thy wrath is forth against me gone;

And in my bones there is no rest, for sin that I have done.

verse 4 Because gone up above mine head my great transgressions be;

And, as a weighty burden, they too heavie are for me.

verse 5 My wounds do stink, and are corrupt, they very loathsome be;

Because my foolishnesse and sin have loathsome been to thee.

verse 6 I troubled and tormented am, and much how'd downe am I;

And in great paine I all the day go mourning heavily.

verse 7 A loathsome sickness sills my loines, my flesh hath no whole part:

verse 8 I feeble am, and broken sore, I roare for griefe of heart.

verse 9 Thou know'st, Lord, my desire, my groans, are open in thy sight:

verse 10 My heart doth pant, my strength doth faile, mine eies have lost their light.

The second part.

verse 11 My friends and lovers from my sore aloofe off standing are:

p. 73Those that to me before were neere, now stand from the afarre.

verse 12 They that did seek my life, laid snares, and they that sought the way

To do me hurt, spake lies, and thought on treason all the day.

verse 13 But as one deaf, that heard it not, I suffered all to passe;

As a dumb man I did become, whose mouth not opened was.

verse 14 As one that heares not, in whose mouth reproofes not framed be:

verse 15 For, Lord, I wait on thee, and thou my God wilt answer me.

verse 16 For I have prayed that my foes rejoyce not over mee;

Nor magnifie themselves, when they my foot to slip do see.

verse 17 For by the greatnesse of my griefe ready to halt am I;

My vexing sorrow in my sight appeares continually.

verse 18 For I will my transgression shew, and for it I will mourne:

I will be sorry for my sin, and from it I will turne,

verse 19 But yet mine enemies lively are, and strong their power growes,

The number of them doth increase that causlesse are my foes.

verse 20 They also that most wickedly for good do ill reward;

p. 74Mine adversaries are, because what's good I sollow hard.

verse 21 Forsake me not, my Lord, my God, far from me never be;

O Lord, thou my salvation art, haste to give help to me.

PSAL. XXXIX.

I Said, that I would carefully take heed unto my way;

Lest with my tongue I should offend and it should go astray.

verse 2 As with a bit I will keep fast my mouth with force and might;

Not once to whisper all the while the wicked are in sight.

verse 3 I held my tongue, and spake no wo… but kept me close and still:

Yea, from good talk I did refraine, but sore against my will.

verse 4 My heart grew hot within my brest while I was musing long;

At length the fire kindled was, then spake I with my tongue.

verse 5 The end and measure of my daies to know, Lord, teach me so

That I may know how fraile I am, and herce must shortly go.

verse 6 My daies thou hast a hand-bread m… mine age is in thin: eie

As nothing, surely, in his strength man is but vanitie.

p. 75verse 7 Man walketh like a shade, and doth in vaine himselfe annoy,

In getting goods, and cannot tell who shall the same enjoy.

verse 8 And, Lord, for what now do I wait, what here can profit me?

Surely on thee my soule doth wait, my hope is all in thee.

The second part.

verse 9 Then, Lord, from my transgressions all do thou deliver me;

And to the foolish a reproach, O let me never be.

verse 10 I was as dumb, and to complaine no trouble might me move;

Because I knew it was thy work, who dost afflict in love.

verse 11 Lord, take from me thy scourge and plague, I can them not withstand;

I am consumed by the blow of thy correcting hand.

verse 12 When with rebukes thou dost correct man for iniquity,

Thou fret'st his beauty like a moth, all men are vanity.

verse 13 Lord, heare my suit, and give good heed, regard my teares that fall:

I sojourne like a stranger here, as did my fathersall

verse 14 Oh spare a little, give me space my strength for to restore;

Before I go away from hence, and shall be seen no more.

PSAL. XL.

p. 76I Waited long, and sought the Lord, and patiently did beare;

At length to me he did accord, my voice and cry to heare.

verse 2 He took me from a fearfull pit, and from the miery clay;

And on a rock he set my feet, and he did guide my way.

verse 3 To me he taught a Psalm of praise, which I must shew abroad;

And sing new songs of thanks alwaies unto the Lord our God.

verse 4 These things a multitude shall see, and seeing be affraid;

And fearing, to the Lord shall flee, and trust in him for aid.

O blest is he, whose hope and heart fixt in the Lord remaine;

That with the proud doth take no part, nor such as lie and faine.

verse 5 O Lord my God, full many are the wonders thou hast done;

Thy gracious thoughts to us-ward far beyond mans thoughts have gone.

So that when I to thee intend their number to expresse,

Of them then can I find no end, for they are numberlesse.

verse 6 Yet sacrifice not to require, nor offrings pleas'd thou wist;

No not for sin, or made by fire, but pierc't mine eares thou hast.

p. 77verse 7 And then I said, Behold, and look, O Lord, I come to thee:

For in the volume of thy book thus it is said of mee:

verse 8 Thy will and pleasure to fulfill, my God, I do delight;

Thy Law is in my heart and will, thy spirit there did it write.

verse 9 Thy justice, and thy righteousnes, in great resorts I tell;

Behold, my tongue no time doth cease, O Lord, thou know'st full well.

verse 10 Within my heart I have not hid thy perfect righteousnesse;

But thy salvation shew I did, and constant faithfulnesse.

The second part.

I kept not close thy loving mind, that no man should it know;

The trust that in thy truth I find, to all the Church I shew.

verse 11 Thy tender mercy, Lord, from me withhold not, nor remove;

But let my safety come from thee, and from thy truth and love.

verse 12 For evils numberlesse enfold, and round encompasse mee;

My sins on me do take such hold, that up I cannot see.

And surely, many more they be then haires upon my head:

Therefore my heart forsaketh me, and is discouraged.

p. 78verse 13 But of thy mercy, gracious Lord, be pleas'd to set me free:

O Lord, with speed do thou afford thy saving help to me.

verse 14 Let them sustain rebuke and shame, that seek my soule to spill;

Drive back my foes, and them defame that work or wish me ill.

verse 15 And to reward their shame againe, confounded let them be;

Ev'n those that joying in my paine do say, Aha to me.

verse 16 Let them in thee have joy & wealth, who thee do seek alwaies;

Let such as love thy saving health still say, To God be praise.

But as for me, right poore am I, and lie in need full low;

Yet God in this my poverty doth think on me, I know.

verse 17 Thou only my deliverer art, my help, and all my stay:

Therefore thy succour to impart, my God, do not delay.

PSAL. XLI.

THe man is blest that carefull is the needy to consider:

For when the time of trouble comes, the Lord will him deliver.

verse 2 The Lord will him preserve alive, and blesse him in the land;

And he will not deliver him into his enemies hand.

p. 79God will him strengthen on the bed, where he doth faint and mourne;

…nd in his sicknesse thou, O Lord, his bed shalt make and turne.

I being pained, thus did say, Have mercy, Lord, on me;

…nd heale my soule, for by my sins I have offended thee.

Of me mine enemies evill speak, When shall he die, they say;

… so his name from off the earth may vanish quite away.

verse 6 To see me when he comes, he speakes vaine words, but then his …

…oth heap up mischief, which he tel… when forth he doth depart.

verse 7 My foes against me do conspire, and whisper secretly;

…gainst me to procure my hurt they plot maliciously.

verse 8 Some foule disease to him doth cleave, they say, and some strange paine;

And surely now he lieth downe, he shall not rise againe.

verse 9 Yea ev'n mine owne familiar friend, that trusted w… by me;

Though he did eat my bread, his heele against me lifted he.

verse 10 But, Lord, be mercifull to me, and up againe me raise;

…hat I may justly them requite, according to their waies.

p. 80verse 11 By this I know, that certainly I favour'd am by thee:

Because mine enemy hath no cause to triumph over mee.

verse 13 But I in mine integrity am stablish't by thy grace;

And thou for ever dost me set before thy glorious face.

verse 13 The Lord the God of Israel, blest from everlasting be

To everlasting, and Amen, Amen, say gladly we.

PSAL. XLII.

LIke as tho Hart doth pant and bray the well-springs to obtaine;

So doth my soule desire alway with thee, Lord, to remaine.

verse 2 My soule doth thirst, and would draw neer the living God of might:

Oh when shall I come and appeare in presence of his sight?

verse 3 My teares of sorrow are become my meat both night and day;

While unto me continually, Where is thy God, they say?

verse 4 My soule is powred out in me, when this I think upon;

That I with the great multitude into Gods house had gone.

With them into Gods house I went, with voice of joy and praise:

Yea with the multitude that kept the solemne holy-daies.

verse 5 p. 81O why art thou cast down, my soul? what doth disquiet thee?

Still hope in God, for him shall I yet praise for helping mee.

verse 6 My God, my soul is much cast down, but on thee think I will:

From Hermonites, and Jordans land, and from the little hill.

verse 7 At thy great water-spouts loud noise, deep unto deep doth call;

And over me run furiously thy waves and billowes all.

verse 8 Yet God by day shall mercy send, by night give songs shall he;

And to the God, by whom I live, my praier yet shall be.

verse 9 And I will say to God my rock, Why me forget'st thou so?

And why do I thus mourning go, oppressed with my foe?

verse 10 Like to a sword among my bones their sharp reproaches be;

While daily say my foes to me Thy God, now where is he?

verse 11 O why art thou cast down, my soule▪ why thus with griefe opprest?

Art thou disquieted in me? in God still hope and rest.

For yet I know I shall him praise, who graciously to me,

The health is of my countenance, yea mine owne God is he.

p. 82PSAL. XLIII.

O Lord, against ungodly men me judge, and plea… for me;

And from the man of fraud and wrong, O s…t me safe and free:

verse 3 God of my strength thou art, why then thus cast me off dost thou?

Why for th' oppression of my foe thus mourning walk I now?

verse 3 O send to me thy light and truth, and lead me with thy grace;

Which may conduct me to thy h…l, and to thy dwelling place.

verse 4 Then to Gods altar, yea to God my chiefe joy go will I;

And on the Harp, O God, my God, will praise thee thankfully.

verse 5 Why art thou then cast down, my soul? what …hould discourage thee?

And why with vexing thoughts art thou disquieted in me?

verse 6 Still trust in God, for him to praise good …use I yet shall have;

He of my countenance is the health, my God that doth me save.

PSAL. XLIIII.

O God, we with our ears have heard, our fathers have us told,

What workes thou in their daies hast done, and in the times of old.

verse 2 How thou didst cast the Gentiles out, by thy owne mighty hand:

Planting our fathers in their place, and gav'st to them their land.

p. 83Not by their sword, or arme, the land of promise they possest:

But by thy hand, thy arme, and grace, because thou lov'st them best.

O God, who art my King, command for Jacob victories:

Through thee we shall beat downe our foes, which do against us rise.

For neither shall my sword me save, nor trust I in my bow:

But thou dost save us from our foes, and them dost overthrow.

In God we all the day do boast, and ever praise his Name:

But, Lord, now thou hast cast us off, and hast us put to shame.

… Thou with our armies goest not forth, but us thou now dost make

…o turne our backs before our foes, and they our spoiles do take.

… Thou hast us given up like sheep for meat that slain must be:

…mong the Heathen far and wide we scattered are by thee.

… Thou sell'st thy people, yet to thee no riches do arise:

…hou sell'st them, yet no wealth to thee is added by their price.

… Unto our neighbours a reproach thou hast us made to be:

…hey mock us that dwell round about, …o them a scorne are we.

p. 84The second part.

verse 14 Yea, thou among the heathen now a by-word us dost make:

The Nations proudly in contempt at us their heads do shake.

verse 15 Thus my confusion hast thou made before me still to be;

Thus comes it that the shame of face doth daily cover me.

verse 16 Ev'n for his voice that doth reproach and speaketh blasphemy;

By reason of th' avenging man, and cruell enemy.

verse 17 For all this we forgot not thee, nor yet thy covenant brake:

verse 18 We turn not back our hearts from thee, nor yet thy paths forsake.

verse 19 Though in the place of Dragons we sore broken are by thee;

And though with dreadful shade of death by thee we covered be.

verse 20 If our Gods Name we had forgot, and help of Idols sought:

verse 21 Shall not God search this out, who knows the hearts most secret thought?

verse 22 Yea, all the day most cruelly slaine for thy Name are we;

As sheep that are for slaughter kept, so we accounted be.

verse 23 But, Lord, awake, why sleepest thou? awoke, and us deliver:

verse 24 Arise, and do not us forsale, nor cast us off for ever.

p. 85verse 25 Why dost thou hide thy face, and us in griefes and wrongs dost leave?

To dust our soule stoops down, to earth our belly fast doth …leave.

verse 26 Arise, O thou most gracious God, a helper to us be;

We pray thee for thy mercies sake redeem and set us free.

PSAL. XLV.

MY heart doth utter forth good matter in a song;

I speak the things that I have made, which to the King belong.

verse 2 My tongue shall be as quick his honour to indite,

As is the pen of any Scribe, that useth fast to write.

verse 3 O fairest of all men, grace in thy lips doth flow;

And therefore blessings evermore on thee doth God bestow.

verse 4 Thy sword gird on thy thigh, thou that art most of might;

Appeare in dreadfull majesty, and in thy glory bright.

verse 5 Prosper and ride in state, for meeknesse, truth, and right;

And thy right hand shall dreadful things bring forth before thy sight.

verse 6 In the Kings enemies heart sharp shall thine arrowes be;

p. 86Whereby the people shall be forc't to fall downe under thee.

verse 7 Thy royall seat, O Lord, for ever shall remaine;

Because the scepter of thy raigne doth righteousnesse maintaine.

verse 8 Because thou lov'st the right, and dost the ill detest;

Thy Lord God hath anointed thee with joy above the rest.

verse 9 Of myrrhe and savours sweet, a smell thy garments had;

Out of the Ivory palaces, whereby they made thee glad.

verse 10 And in thy glorious traine Kings daughters waiting stand;

And thy faire Queen in precious gold doth stand at thy right hand.

The second part.

verse 11 O daughter, take good heed, incline and give good eare;

Thou must forget thy kindred all, and fathers house most deare.

verse 12 Thy beauty to the King shall then delightfull be;

And do thou humbly worship him, because thy Lord is he.

verse 13 The daughters then of Tyre there with a gift shall be;

And all the wealthy of the land shall make their suit to thee.

verse 14 The daughter of the King p. 87is glorious all within;

Her outward garments which she weares made of wrought gold have bin.

verse 15 She cometh to the King in robes with needle wrought;

The Virgins that do follow her shall unto thee be brought.

verse 16 They shall be brought with joy, and mirth on every side,

Into the palace of the King, and there they shall abide.

verse 17 In stead of parents deare, whom now thou dost forsake,

Shall be thy sons, whom Princes thou in all the earth maist make.

verse 18 I will shew forth thy Name to generations all.

Therefore the people evermore to thee give praises shall.

PSAL. XLVI.

GOd is our strength, to whom we flie, when dangers do abound;

A present help, and very nie in troubles he is found.

verse 2 Therefore we will not be affraid, though th' earth removed be;

Though mountaines lifted up, and laid within the seas we see.

verse 3 No, though the troubled waves do roare, and fearfull thunders make;

Nor though the hills within the shoare do at their swelling shake.

verse 4 p. 88A river with his streames makes glad the city of our God;

The holy place, wherein he had his dwelling, and abode.

verse 5 God doth in midst of her remaine, nothing can her remove;

Right early God shall her sustaine, and help her in his love.

verse 6 The Heathen raged suriously, the Kingdomes moved were:

His voice he uttered from on high, the earth did melt for feare.

verse 7 The Lord of hosts with us remaines, and safe by him are we;

The God of Jacob us sustaines, our refuge strong is he.

verse 8 Come, and the works of God behold, and weigh them in your thought;

What desolations manifold he in the earth hath wrought.

verse 9 To the earths end, when once he speaks, wars he to peace doth turne;

The speare he cuts, the bow he breaks, the chariots he doth burne.

verse 10 Be still, and know, that God am I, I will exalted be;

The Heathen me shall magnifie, the earth shall honour me.

verse 11 The Lord of hosts doth us defend, he is our strength and tower;

On Jacobs God we do depend, and on his mighty power.

p. 89PSAL. XLVII.

OClap your hands with one accord, all people, and rejoyce;

Be glad, and shout unto the Lord with a triumphing voice.

verse 2 For God most high right dreadfull is, all men his subjects be;

A great and universall King through all the earth is he.

verse 3 And under us he shall bring downe the people mightily:

And he the Nations shall constraine under our feet to lye.

verse 4 That heritage for us he chose, which he did best approve;

A glorious lot for Israel, whom he did dearly love.

verse 5 Our God ascended up on h…e with joy and pleasant noise,

The Lord go'th up above the skie with trumpets royall voice.

verse 6 Sing praises unto God sing praise, sing praises to our King:

verse 7 The praise of God, the earths great King, with understanding sing.

verse 8 God on the Heathen reignes, and sits upon his holy Throne:

The Princes of the people are made with Gods people one.

verse 9 They gathered are to Abrahams God, who dwelling up on hye:

The Shields of all the earth doth keep, and rules it mightily.