Lord, my God, if I have thought His sword he whets, his bow hath bended PSALM VIII. AUG. 14, 1653. O JEHOVAH our Lord, how wondrous great And glorious is thy name through all the earth! So as above the Heavens thy praise to set Out of the tender mouths of latest birth. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou Hast founded strength because of all thy fres, To stint the enemy, and slack th' avenger's brow, That bends his rage thy providence t' oppose. When I behold thy Heav'ns, thy fingers' art. The moon and stars which thou so bright hust set In the pure firmament, then saith my heart, O what is man that thou remember'st yet, And think’st upon him; or of man begot, That him thou visit'st, and of him art found? Scarce to be less than gods, thou mad'st his lot, With honour and with state thou hast him crowo'd O'er the works of thy hand thon mad'st him lord, Thou hast put all under his lordly feet, All beasts that in the field or forest meet, Sea paths in shoals do slide, and know no dearth. And gloricus is thy name through all the earth! APRIL, 1645. J. M. Nine of the Poalms done into metre, wherein all, but what is in a different character, are the very words of the text, translated from the original PSALM LXXX. THOU Shepherd that dost Israel keep Give ear in time of need, Thy loved Joseph's seed, Between their wings out-spread, And on our foes thy dread. And in Manasse's sight, To save us by thy might. To us, O God, vouchsafe; And then we shall be safe. How long wilt thou declare Against thy people's prayer! Thon feed'st them with the bread of tears, Their bread with tears they eat, Wherewith their cheeks are wet. To every neighbour foe, And flouts at us they throw. O God of Hosts, vouchsafe, And then we shall be safe. Thy free love made it thine, To plant this lovely vine. And root it deep and fast, And fill'd the land at last. The hills were over-spread, Advanced their lofty head. Down to the sea she sent, Her other branches went. And broken down her fence, With rudest violence ? Up turns it by the roots, Her grapes and tender shoots. Return now, God of Hosts, look down From Heav'n, thy seat divine, And visit this thy vine. Hath set, and planted long, Thou hast made firm and strong. And cut with axes down, They perish at thy dreadful ire, At thy rebuke and frown. Upon the man of thy right hand Let thy good hand be laid, Upon the son of man, whom thon Strong for thyself hast made. So shall we not go back from thee To ways ofsin and shane, Quicken us thou, then gladly wo Shall call upon thy Name. Return us, and thy grace divine, Lord God of Hosts, vouchsafe, Cause thou thy face on us to shine, And then we shall be safe. PSALM LXXXI. To God our strength sing loud, and clear, Sing loud to God our King, Loud acclamations ring. The timbrel hither bring, And harp with pleasant string. |