3 City of God, most glorious things Of thee abroad are spoke. I mention Egypt, where proud kings 4 I mention Babel to my friends, And Tyre, with Ethiop's utmost ends: 5 But twice that praise shall in our ear This and this man was born in her; High God shall fix her fast. 6 The Lord shall write it in a scroll, 7 Both they who sing and they who dance In thee fresh brooks and soft streams glance, PSALM LXXXVIII. I LORD GOD, that dost me save and keep, And all night long before thee weep, 2 Into thy presence let my prayer, And to my cries, that ceaseless are, Thine ear with favour bend. 3 For, cloyed with woes and trouble store, My life, at death's uncheerful door, 4 Reckoned I am with them that pass Down to the dismal pit; I am a 1 man but weak, alas! And for that name unfit, 1 Heb.: A man without manly 5 From life discharged and parted quite strength. Among the dead to sleep, And like the slain in bloody fight. Them, from thy hand delivered o’er, Where thickest darkness hovers round, 7 Thy wrath, from which no shelter saves, 2 Thou break'st upon me all thy waves, 8 Thou dost my friends from me estrange, Me to them odious, for they change, 9 Through sorrow and affliction great Io Wilt thou do wonders on the dead? Shall the deceased arise 20 30 2 The Hebrew bears both. And praise thee from their loathsome bed With pale and hollow eyes? II Shall they thy loving-kindness tell On whom the grave hath hold? 12 In darkness can thy mighty hand 40 Or wondrous acts be known? 13 But I to thee, O Lord, do cry And up to thee my prayer doth hie 14 Why wilt thou, Lord, my soul forsake 15 That am already bruised, and shake While I thy terrors undergo, Astonished with thine ire? 16 Thy fierce wrath over me doth flow; Thy threatenings cut me through: 17 All day they round about me go; Like waves they me pursue. 18 Lover and friend thou hast removed, They fly me now whom I have loved, PSALM I. Done into verse 1653. BLEST is the man who hath not walked astray He shall be as a tree which planted grows PSALM II. Done August 8, 1653.—Terzetti. IO WHY do the Gentiles tumult, and the nations "Let us break off," say they, "by strength of hand, Their bonds, and cast from us, no more to wear, Their twisted cords." He who in heaven doth dwell Shall laugh; the Lord shall scoff them, then severe Speak to them in his wrath, and in his fell And fierce ire trouble them. "But I," saith he, “Anointed have my King (though ye rebel) On Sion my holy hill." A firm decree I will declare: the Lord to me hath said, ΙΟ The Heathen, and, as thy conquest to be swayed, Earth's utmost bounds: them shalt thou bring full low With iron sceptre bruised, and them disperse Like to a potter's vessel shivered so." 20 Be taught, ye judges of the earth; with fear Jehovah serve, and let your joy converse With trembling; kiss the Son, lest he appear In anger, and ye perish in the way, If once his wrath take fire, like fuel sere. Happy all those who have in him their stay. PSALM III. August 9, 1653. When he fled from Absalom. LORD, how many are my foes! How many those That in arms against me rise! Many are they That of my life distrustfully thus say, The exalter of my head I count : Unto Jehovah; he full soon replied, Was the Lord. Of many millions The populous rout I fear not, though, encamping round about, They pitch against me their pavilions. Rise, Lord; save me, my God! for thou Hast smote ere now On the cheek-bone all my foes, Of men abhorred ΙΟ 20 Hast broke the teeth. This help was from the Lord; Thy blessing on thy people flows. |