The Psalms of David in English Meter, Psalms · Psalm 48 – Psalm 59

The Psalms of David in English Meter · Psalms · Psalm 48 – Psalm 59

p. 90PSAL. XLVIII.

GReat is the Lord, & with great praise to be advanced still:

…thin the City of our God upon his holy hill.

verse 2 Mount Sion is a pleasant place, it gladdeth all the land;

The City of the mighty King on her North-side doth stand.

verse 3 A refuge in her palaces, well knowne is God most Hye:

verse 4 For lo, the Kings assembled were, together past they by.

verse 5 They viewed it, and having view'd, they wondring would not stay:

But being troubled at the sight, they thence did haste away.

verse 6 Great terror there took hold on them, they were possest with feare.

Their griese was like a womans paine, when she a child doth beare.

verse 7 Tempestuous winds the ships doe break, if once thou …o but speak.

The strongest ships of Tarshish thou with an Fast wind dost break.

verse 8 In the Lords City we have seen, as we have heard before:

Ev'n in Gods City, which he will establish evermore.

verse 9 Within thy Temple, gracious Lord, with comfort we have thought

Of thy great kindnesse, and thy love, which humbly there we sought.

p. 91verse 10 Lord, as thy Name, even so thy praise runs to the utmost land;

And with abundant righteousnes thou sillest thy right hand.

verse 11 Let Sion Mount rejoyce, because thy judgements it doth see;

Of Judah let the daughters all with gladnesse filled be.

verse 12 Go walk about all Sion hill, yea round about her go;

And tell the towers that thereupon are builded on a row.

verse 13 Consider her faire palaces, her bulwarks mark ye well;

That to the following age ye may her strength and beauty tell.

verse 14 Because this God is ours, our God for evermore is he▪

He will not leave us, but ourguide ev'n unto death will be.

PSAL. XLIX.

HEare this all people, all give eare that in the world do dwell:

verse 2 Both high and low, both rich & poor, together mark it well.

verse 3 Because my mouth the weighty words of wisdome shall impart;

Of understanding are the thoughts, which iss…e from my heart.

verse 4 Unto an hidden parable I will encline mine eare;

…nd then will open on the Harp p. 92the secret which I heare.

verse 5 Why should I, that redeemed am, in ill daies feare or doubt:

When close my sins do follow me, and compasse me about?

verse 6 The rich indeed, who in their wealth do only put their trust;

And boast themselves in the great store of riches that do rust.

verse 7 None of these can their brothers soule redeem by any way;

Nor can he for him unto God an equall ransome pay.

verse 8 Their soules redemption pretious is, and left it still must be;

Wealth cannot make him ever live, and no corruption see.

verse 9 Por that wise men and brutish sooles die all, they well perceive;

verse 10 And being dead, to other men their wealth behind do leave.

verse 11 Yet their deep thought is, that their house continue ever shall;

And their faire dwellings, for their lands by their owne names they call.

verse 12 But yet in honour shall not man abide continually;

But passing hence may be compar'd unto the beasts that dye.

The second part.

verse 13 Thus a great folly plainly is their wisdome, and their way;

p. 93Yet their posterity approves what they do fondly say.

verse 14 Like sheep they in the grave are laid, and death doth them devoure;

And in the morning shall the just on them have rule and power.

Their beauty shall consume away, and perish in the grave;

When for a dwelling in the dust their house they changed baye.

verse 15 But God will surely me redeem from hands of grave and hell:

For he at last will me receive with him in blisse to dwell.

verse 16 Then if a man grow very rich, affraid thou must not be;

Nor when the glory of his house thou dost increased see.

verse 17 For he shall carry nothing hence, when death his daies doth end;

Nor shall his glory after him into the grave descend.

verse 18 Though he his soul did seem to bless whiles he on earth did live:

(For when thou to thy self dost well, men will thee praises giv….)

verse 19 Yet shall he to his fathers go, which have been dead before;

Ev'n to their generation, who light shall see no more.

verse 20 Thus man in honour is, yet whiles he understands not right

p. 94His true felicity, is like the beasts that perish quite.

PSAL. L.

THe mighty God the Lord spake, and the earth did call,

From the Sun-rising to the place where he doth set and fall.

verse 2 And out of Sion hill, which by the Grace divine

Of beauty the perfection is, he gloriously doth …hine.

verse 3 Our God shall come and speak, yea, speak with power shall he:

Before him sire shall waste, and stormes shall round about him be.

verse 4 And to the heavens cleere he from above shall call:

He to the earth shall call, that he may judge his people all.

verse 5 Together let my Saints unto me gathered be;

Those that by sacrifice have made a covenant sirme with me.

verse 6 And then the heavens shall his righteousnes declare:

For God himself is Judge of all, whose judgements righteous are.

verse 7 My people Israel heare speak will I from on hie;

Against thee testifie I will: God, even thy God am I.

verse 8 For sacrifices few p. 95thee blame I never will,

Nor for burnt-offerings; for the same appeare before me still.

verse 9 Think'st thou that I do need thy cattell young or old?

Or else so much desire to seed on goats out of thy fold?

verse 10 The beasts are all mine owne which in the world abound;

And all the cattell which upon a thousand hills are found.

verse 11 The fowles of mountaines hie are all to me well knowne:

Wild beasts which in the fields do lie, ev'n they are all mine owne.

verse 12 Then need I not to thee for hunger to complaine;

Because the world belongs to me, and what it doth containe.

The second part.

verse 13 That I the flesh of Bulls will eat once canst thou think?

Or else that I to quench my thirst the bloud of goats would drink.

verse 14 But rather to the Lord thanksgiving offer thou;

To the most High performe thy word, and fully pay thy vow.

verse 15 And do thou call on me in all thy troublous daies;

And then I will deliver thee, …nd thou shalt give me praise.

verse 16 p. 96But to the wicked traine, which talk of God each day;

And yet their works are soule and vaine, to them the Lord will say:

verse 17 With what a face dar'st thou my word once speak, or name?

Why doth thy talk my Law allow, thy deeds deny the same?

verse 18 Whereas for to amend thy life thou art so slack:

My word, which thou dost thus pretend, is cast behind thy back.

verse 19 If thou a th…fe dost see, thou joyn'st with him in sin;

And with unclean adulterers thou hast partaker bin.

verse 20 Thy mouth maliciously to evill thou dost give:

verse 21 Thy tongue thy neighbour to deceive by crafty words doth strive.

verse 22 Against thy brother neere thou sitting downe dost speak;

Thy tongue against thy mothers son in slanders forth doth break.

verse 23 These things thus hast thou done, and I have silent bin;

Thou thought'st that I was like to thee, who dost delight in sin.

verse 24 But I will thee reprove for thine iniquities;

And I will them in order set plainly before thine eies.

verse 25 p. 97Consider this with feare, ye that forget the Lord;

Lest into pieces you he teare, when none can help afford.

verse 26 Whoso doth offer praise, he glorifieth me;

And he that doth uprightly walk, shall Gods salvation see.

PSAL. LI.

ACcording tothy goodnesse great have mercy, Lord, on me;

Blot out my sins, for numberlesse thy tender mercies be.

verse 2 From mine iniquity and sin, Lord, throughly wash thou mee:

For my transgressions, I consesse, my sin I ever see.

verse 3 Against thee, thee alone have I sin'd, and transgrest thy Law;

Before thee evill have I done, thy glorious eies it saw.

verse 4 That when thou sentence dost pronounce, thou justifi'd maist be;

And wholly cleere, when thou for sin dost judge and chasten me.

B…hold, in wickednesse my shape and being I receiv'd;

…infull of sin, and flesh of flesh my mother me conceiv'd.

But …o, the truth in inward parts … pleasant unto thee;

p. 98And secrets of thy wisdome thou revealed hast to mee.

verse 7 With hysope (Lord) besprinkle me I shall be cleansed so:

Yea, wash thou me, and so I shall be whiter then the snow.

verse 8 Of joy and gladnesse make thou mee to heare the pleasant voice;

That so the bruised bones, which thou hast broken, may rejoyce.

verse 9 From the beholding of my sins, Lord, turne away thy face;

And all my deeds of wickednesse do utterly deface.

verse 10 O God, create in me a heart unspotted in thy sight;

Within my bowels, Lord, renew a spirit sound and right.

The second part.

verse 11 Cast me not from thy sight, nor t… thy holy spirit away;

The joy of thy salvation give me againe I pray.

verse 12 With thy free spirit me still up… transgressors then of mee

Shall learn thy waies, and sinners sh… be turned unto thee.

verse 13 O God, that art my Saviour, from bloud deliver mee;

That praises of thy righteousnesse my tongue may sing to thee.

verse 14 The lips which sin fast close… p. 99Lord, open and untie;

My mouth shall freely speak thy praise, thus set at libertie.

verse 15 I would have offered sacrifice, if that had pleased thee;

But pleased with burnt-offering I know thou wilt not be.

verse 16 A broken spirit is to God a pleasant sacrifice:

A broken and a contrite heart, God, thou wilt not despise.

verse 17 Do good to Sion in thy love, and ever her sust…ine:

Th walls of thy Jerusalem build thou, and still maintaine,

verse 18 The sacrifice of righteousnesse, and off …ings then to thee

S…ll pleasing be, then bullocks shall laid on thine altar be.

PSAL. LII.

O Mighty man, in wickednesse why dost thou b…ast with pride?

… … thou sure, Gods graciousnesse for ever shall …ide.

verse 2 T…y tong… doth utter what thy thought … c…tily:

Like a sharp rasor it hath wrought …hiefe deceitfully.

verse 3 To …vill more then good thy love is carried vehemently;

And lying thou dost more approve t…en to speak righteously.

verse 4 p. 100Those deadly words thou lovest wel… that may destroy and kill;

And thy deceitfull tongue doth tell the tales that bloud may spill.

verse 5 Thou likewise battered by Gods han… and snatch't away shalt be:

Thee from thy house, and from the la… of life root out shall he.

verse 6 The just with feare shall plainly see Gods judgement in thy fall;

Yet for thy folly, thus of thee with laughter say they shall:

verse 7 Behold the man that would not ta… the Lord for his defence:

But of his goods his God did make, and sin his confidence.

verse 8 But like to a green olive-tree within Gods house am I:

For in Gods mercy great shall be my trust continually.

verse 9 And I, because thou this hast done, to praise thee will not cease:

And I will wait thy Name upon, for this thy Saints doth please.

PSAL. LIII.

THe foolish man within his heart hath said, God there is none:

verse 2 Corrupt are they, their deeds are v… and good not one hath done.

verse 3 The Lord upon the sons of men from heav'n did cast his eye;

p. 101To see if any one were wise, and sought God faithfully.

verse 4 But they together filthy are, and back they all are gone;

And there is none that good doth work, surely there is not one.

verse 5 These workers of iniquity are they so blinded all,

That they my people eat like bread? on God they do not call.

verse 6 Even there they were affraid, & stood with trembling all dismaid;

Whereas there was no cause at all, why they should be affraid.

verse 7 For God his bones that thee besieg'd, hath scattered all abroad:

Thou hast confounded them, for they rejected are of God.

verse 8 O Lord, give thou thy people health, and thou, O Lord, fulfill

Thy promise made to Israel, from out of Sion hill.

verse 9 When God from sad captivity his people shall set free;

Then Jacob greatly shall rejoyce, and Israel glad shall be.

PSAL. LIIII.

LOrd, by thy Name deliver me, and judge me by thy might;

Against those that mine enemies be keep, and maintaine my right.

Regard, O Lord, and give an eare p. 102to me when I do pray;

Bow downe thy selfe to me, and heare the words that I do say.

verse 3 For strangers up against me rise, and tyrants vexe me still;

Which have not God before their eies, they seek my soule to spill.

verse 4 But lo, my God doth give me aid, the Lord is straight at hand:

With them, by whom my soule is stai'd, the Lord doth ever stand.

verse 5 He shal with plagues reward my foes, for me in wait that lye:

Yea, in thy truth cut off all those that watch me spitefully.

verse 6 An offring of free heart and will, then I to thee shall make;

And praise thy Name, for therein still great comfort I do take.

verse 7 The Lord hath cleerly set me free out of my troubles all;

And now mine eye doth plainly see my soes expected fall.

PSAL. LV.

O God, give eare, and do apply to heare me when I pray;

And when to thee I call and cry, hide not thy selfe away.

verse 2 Take heed to me, grant my request, and answer me againe:

With plaints I pray full sore opprest, great griefe doth me constraine.

p. 103Mine enemies words affrighting be, the wicked me oppresse:

They cast iniquity on me in wrath and spitefulnesse.

Great paine my heart disquieteth, it vexed is in me:

… terrours of untimely death upon me sallen be.

A trembling great, with fearfulnesse do come and seize on me;

…onour doth me so much oppresse, I no way out can see.

Then did I say thus O that I the wings had of a Dove!

…m wrong then I away would fly…, and me to rest remove.

Lo, then I would go far away, to …ee I would not cease;

…ll with safety I might stay in some great wildernesse.

And my escape more sure to make, I would be gone in …aste;

… me the tempest do not take, nor the fierce stormy blast,

Destroy, O Lord, and do consound their tongues, and them divide:

Or in their city strife I found, and violence I …spi'd.

These on the walls both night & day do go about it round;

…d in the midst doth mischiefe stay, and sorrow doth abound.

p. 104verse 12 In midst thereof is wickednesse, ev'n in the very heart;

And from her streets deceitfulnesse and guile do not depart.

verse 13 If enemies had reproached me, it well en…ure I could;

If open foes my scorner… be, from such me hide I would.

verse 14 But it was thou, who for a friend and fellow lately past;

And who to guide me didst pretend, and my acquaintance wast.

verse 15 With whom I had delight to talk in secret, and abroad;

And we together oft did walk within the house of God.

The second part.

verse 16 Let death in baste upon them fall, and send them quick to hell:

For mischiefe is among them all, and dwelleth where they dwell:

verse 17 But I upon my God will call, of him I help will crave;

And me the Lord deliver shall, he surely shall me save.

verse 18 At morning noon, and evening I will pray in all my feare:

Yea, I to him aloud will cry, and he my voice shall …eare.

verse 19 My soule in peace he hath made si… from warre against me set;

Because of those that were with me, the multitude was great.

p. 105verse 20 The Lord shall heare when I complaine, even he that is of old;

And them he shall afflict with paine, and judgements manifold.

verse 21 Because they have no changes seen, but still at rest they were:

Therefore presumptuous they have been, and God they do not feare.

verse 22 Upon his friend he laid his hand, with whom he peace did make:

Of friendship thus the solemne band and covenant he brake.

verse 23 Whiles in his heart he …arbours war, like butter are his words:

Whiles smooth as oile his speeches are; yet be they sharp dr…wn swords.

verse 24 Upon the Lord thy burthen lay, and thee sustaine shall he;

His Saints he doth so strongly stay, that mov'd they shall not be.

verse 25 But, Lord, thou to the pit shalt drive men bloudy and unjust:

For halfe their daies such shall not live, but I in thee will trust.

PSAL. LVI.

HAve mercy, Lord, on me, I pray, for man would me devoure;

He sighteth with me day by day, and troubleth me each houre.

verse 2 Mine enemies in their rage and spight would daily swallow me:

For those, O thou most High, that sight against me, many be.

p. 106verse 3 But when their multitude and power most terrour strike on mee;

I even in that time and houre will put my trust in thee.

verse 4 Gods promise surely praise I shall, my trust is, Lord, in thee:

I therefore will not feare at all what flesh can do to mee.

verse 5 What things I either did or spake, they wrest them at their will;

And all the counsell that they take, is how to work me ill.

verse 6 They all consent themselves to hide, close watch for me to lay;

They spie my paths, and snares have ti'd to take my life away.

verse 7 Shall they by their iniquity escape from judgement free?

Lord, let the people searfully cast downe in fury be.

verse 8 Thou seest how oft they made me flee, and on my teares dost look:

Them in a bottle keep by thee; are they not in thy book?

verse 9 My foes shall turn their backs, when I send up my cry to thee;

This do I know assuredly, for God doth sta…d for mee.

verse 10 In God, performing what he spake, I now will praise his word:

His word which thus he good dot… mak… praise will I in the Lord.

p. 107verse 11 On God alone my trust is stai'd, my rock and rest is he:

Therefore I will not be affraid what man can do to me.

verse 12 Thy vowes, O Lord, upon me be, and them I shall fulfill;

And hearty praises unto thee I gladly render will.

verse 13 For thou, my soul, from deaths dark night, my feet from falls dost free;

To walk before thee in the light of those that living be.

PSAL. LVII.

BF mercifull to me, O Lord, be mercifull to me;

Because according to thy word my so…le doth trust in thee.

verse 2 Yea, she unto the shadow … of thy wings, her to cover;

Untill these sa… calamities be wholly passed over.

verse 3 To God most High my earnest …ry in praier sent shall be;

Even to that God, who graciou…ly performeth all for me.

verse 4 From heaven shall his power descend, to save me from their spight

That would …voure me, God shall send his mercy, truth, and might.

verse 5 With Lionsf…ll of cruelty my troubl…d soule doth dwell:

p. 108Their fury amongst whom I lye, is set on fire of hell.

verse 6 These sons of men are very sie…ce, which seek to do me wrong.

Their teeth like speare… & arrows pierce a sharp sword is their tongue.

verse 7 Above the heavens thou, O God, exalted be in praise:

Let men on all the earth abroad aloft thy glory raise.

verse 8 They for my steps a net did sit, my soule did faint in me;

Before me they have digg'd a pit, but fall'n therein they be.

verse 9 My heart is fixed stedfastly to praise thy works and waies;

My heart is fixed Lord, and I will sing, and give thee praise.

verse 10 Aw…ke my tongue, harp, psaltery, no longer silence keep:

For early God to magnifie I will break off my sleep.

verse 11 Among the people I will tell the goodnesse of my God;

And shew his praise that doth excell, in heathen lands abroad.

verse 12 Because unto the heavens high thy mercy doth ascend:

Thy truth doth also gloriously unto the clouds extend.

verse 13 Above the heavens thou, O God, exalted be in praise:

p. 109Let men on all the earth abroad alost thy glory raise.

PSAL. LVIII.

YE Rulers, that are put in trust, to judge of wrong and right:

Be all your judgements true and just, not knowing gift, or might?

verse 2 Nay, in your hearts you plot & muse to work unrighteousnesse;

And violence in the earth you use, you with your hands oppresse.

verse 3 The wicked from the very womb thus e…e out of the way;

As soon as to the world they come, in lies they go astray.

verse 4 In them the po…son we may see of Serpents to appeare;

And like the Adder deafe they be, which fast doth stop his eare.

verse 5 That so th… vo…ce he may not heare of one that charme him would;

No▪ not though he most cunning were, and cha…me most wisely could.

verse 6 Lord, let their teeth by thy great might in their mouth broken be:

Let the young Lions jawes be quite asunder …orne by thee.

verse 7 Let them as streames, that running are away, so melt and slide;

And when their arrowes they prepare, in pieces them divide.

verse 8 As Snailes do melt and waste away, consum'd so let them be;

p. 110That, as a birth untimely, they the Sun may never see.

verse 9 Ere to their pots thorns heat can give▪ he takes them hence in haste;

His whirlwind takes them hence alive, and his wraths dreadfull blast.

verse 10 The righteous shall be joyfull then, when he doth vengeance see;

And in the bloud of wicked men his feet shall washed be.

verse 11 Then shall men s…, that verily the Saints reward shall find;

And that a God is certainly the Judge of all mankind.

PSAL. LIX.

FRom all my cruell enemies, my God, deliver me;

From all that do against me rise, let me be kept by thee.

verse 2 From those that work iniquity in mercy set me free:

From men of bloud and cruelty, save and deliver mee.

verse 3 For …o, in wait for me they lye, the mighty do combine;

Against me …deservedly, and for no fault of mine.

verse 4 The… …un, and do prepare for war, when I give no offence;

Awake, and from me be not far, look out for my defence.

p. 111verse 5 Most mighty God of Israel, to judge the world awake;

Spare none that wilfully rebell, but on them vengeance take.

verse 6 At evening they returne againe, as dogs a no…se they make;

About the city food to gaine, their hungry walk they take.

verse 7 Behold, their mouths belch cruelty, and in their lips are swords;

For who, say they, is here so nigh, that he can heare our words?

verse 8 But laugh at them they wisdome shall, while thus their sins they hide:

The unbeleeving … all, O Lord, thou shalt de…ide.

verse 9 Because mine enemies mighty be, therefore with confidence

I will depend, and wait on thee, for God is my defence.

verse 10 The God of all my mercy me with favour shall prevent;

That I upon my soes may see deserved punishment.

The seco…d part.

verse 11 Slay them not, lest from mind it slide, disperse them by thy power;

And bring them down in all their pride, O Lord our shield and tower.

verse 12 For wicked words, for their mouthes sin, let their owne pride them take:

Their lips to cursing us'd have bin, and their mouth lies to make.

p. 112verse 13 Consume them wholly in thy wrath, and cause them not to be;

That God all rule in Jacob hath, so let them plainly see.

verse 14 At evening they returne againe, like dogs a noise they make;

About the City food to gaine, their hungry walk they take.

verse 15 And let them wander to and fro, and seek for food to eat:

And grudge when they do hungry grow, and be not fill'd with meat.

verse 16 But I thy power, I early will aloud thy mercy praise:

For thou hast been my refuge still, and help in troublous daies.

verse 17 Thou art my strength, thou hast mee sta…'d, and I will sing to thee:

For God is my defence and aid, a gracious God to me.