PSALM VII. Alg. 14, 1653.

UPON THE WORDS OF CHUSH THE BENJAMITE AGAINST HIN.

LORD, my God, to thee I fly,
Save me, and secure me under
Thy protection while I cry,
Lest as a lion (and no wonder)
He haste to tear my soul asunder,
Tearing, and no rescue nigh.

3

Lord, my God, if I have thought
Or done this, if wickedness
Be in my hands, if I have wrought
Ill to him that meant me peace,
Or to him have render'd less,
And not freed my foe for nought;

10

15

Let th' enemy pursue my soul
And overtake it, let him tread
My life down to the earth, and roll
In the dust my glory dead,
In the dust, and there outspread
Lodge it with dishonour foul.

20

Rise, Jehovah, in thine ire,
Rouse thyself amidst the rage
Of my foes that urge like fire,
And wake for me, their fury' assuage;
Judgment here thou didst engage
And command which I desire.

9.5

So thi

’ assemblies of each nation
Will surround thee, seeking right,
Thence to thy glorious habitation
Return on high, and in their sight.
Jehovah judgeth most upright
All people from the world's foundation.

30

Judge me, Lord, be judge in this
According to my righteousness,
And the innocence which is
Upon me: cause at length to cease
Of evil men the wickedness
And their power that do amiss.

35

But the just establish fast,
Since thou art the just God that tries
Hearts and reins. On God is cast
My defence, and in him lies,
In him who both just and wise
Saves th’ upright of heart at last.

40

15

God is a just judge and severe,
And God is every day offended;
If the unjust will not forbear,
His sword he whets, his bow hath bended
Already, and for him intended
The tools of death, that waits him near.

(His arrows purposely made he
For them that persecute.) Behold

He travels big with vanity,
Trouble he hath conceiv'd of old
As in a womb, and from that mould
Hath at length brought forth a lie.

a

55

He digg'd a pit, and delv'd it deep,
And fell into the pit he made ;
His mischief that due course doth keep,
Turns on his head, and his ill trade
Of violence will undelay'd
Fall on his crown with ruin steep.

Then will I Jehovah's praise
According to his justice raise,
And sing the Name and Deity
Of Jehovah the most high.

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 5

Hast founded strength because of all thy foes, To stint th' enemy, and slack th' avenger's brow,

That bends his rage thy providence t'oppose. 7 stirt th' enemy) A violent cæsure in the last syllabie of enemy.'

See above, Ps. v. 16. Ps. vii. 22. Warton, Bui perhaps it should be pronounced en’my.

VOL. III.

When I behold thy Heav'ns, thy fingers' art,

The moon and stars which thou so bright hast 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 crown'd.

O’er the works of thy hand thou mad'st him lord,

Thou hast put all under his lordly feet, All flocks, and herds, by thy commanding word,

All beasts that in the field or forest meet,

20

Fowl of the Heavens, and fish that through the wet

Sea paths in shoals do slide, and know no dearth. O Jehovah our Lord, how wondrous great

And glorious is thy name through all the earth!

April, 1648. J. M.

Nine of the Psalms 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.

1 Thou Shepherd that dost Israel keep

Give ear in time of. need,
Who leadest like a flock of sheep

Thy loved Joseph's seed,

5

15

That sitt'st between the Cherubs bright,

Between their wings out-spread,
Shine forth, and from thy cloud give light,

And on our foes thy dread.
2 In Ephraim's view and Benjamin's,

And in Manasse's sight,
Awake thy strength, come, and be seen

To save us by thy might.
3 Turn us again, thy grace divine

To us, o God, vouchsafe ;
Cause thou thy face on us to shine,

And then we shall be safe.
4 Lord God of Hosts, how long wilt thou,

How long wilt thou declare
Thy smoking wrath, and angry brow

Against thy people's prayer!
5 Thou feed'st them with the bread of tears,

Their bread with tears they eat,
And mak’st them largely drink the tears

Wherewith their cheeks are wet. 6 A strife thou mak’st us and a prey

To every neighbour foe,
Among themselves they laugh, they play,

And flouts at us they throw.
7 Return us, and thy grace divine,

O God of Hosts, vouchsafe, Cause thou thy face on us to shine,

And then we shall be safe. 8 A Vine from Egypt thou hast brought,

Thy free love made it thine,

20

25

30