Or wondrous acts be known?
Thy justice in the gloomy land
Of dark oblivion?

13 But I to thee, O Lord, do cry
Ere yet my life be spent;
And up to thee my prayer doth hie
Each morn, and thee prevent.

14 Why wilt thou, Lord, my soul forsake
And hide thy face from me,
15 That am already bruised, and shake
With terror sent from thee;
Bruised and afflicted, and so low
As ready to expire,

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,
And severed from me far:

They fly me now whom I have loved,
And as in darkness are.

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3 Heb.: Prae concussione.

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PSALM I.

Done into verse 1653.

BLEST is the man who hath not walked astray
In counsel of the wicked, and i' the way
Of sinners hath not stood, and in the seat
Of scorners hath not sat; but in the great
Jehovah's Law is ever his delight,
And in his Law he studies day and night.

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He shall be as a tree which planted grows
By watery streams, and in his season knows
To yield his fruit; and his leaf shall not fall,
And what he takes in hand shall prosper all.
Not so the wicked; but, as chaff which fanned
The wind drives, so the wicked shall not stand
In judgment, or abide their trial then,
Nor sinners in the assembly of just men.
For the Lord knows the upright way of the just,
And the way of bad men to ruin must.

IO

PSALM II.

Done August 8, 1653.-Terzetti.

WHY do the Gentiles tumult, and the nations
Muse a vain thing, the kings of the earth upstand
With power, and princes in their congregations
Lay deep their plots together through each land

Against the Lord and his Messiah dear?

"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

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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, "Thou art my Son; I have begotten thee This day; ask of me, and the grant is made:

As thy possession I on thee bestow

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." And now be wise at length, ye kings averse;

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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,
"No help for him in God there lies."
But thou, Lord, art my shield, my glory;
Thee, through my story,

The exalter of my head I count :
Aloud I cried

Unto Jehovah; he full soon replied,
And heard me from his holy mount.
I lay and slept; I waked again :
For my sustain

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,

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Of men abhorred

Hast broke the teeth. This help was from the Lord; Thy blessing on thy people flows.

PSALM IV.

August 10, 1653.

ANSWER me when I call,
God of my righteousness;
In straits and in distress
Thou didst me disenthrall

And set at large: now spare,

Now pity me, and hear my earnest prayer.
Great ones, how long will ye

My glory have in scorn?
How long be thus forborne
Still to love vanity?

Be awed, and do not sin;
Speak to your hearts alone
Upon your beds, each one,
And be at peace within.
Offer the offerings just

Of righteousness, and in Jehovah trust.
Many there be that say

"Who yet will show us good?
Talking like this world's brood;
But, Lord, thus let me pray :
On us lift up the light,

Lift up the favour, of thy count'nance bright.

Into my heart more joy

And gladness thou hast put

To love, to seek, to prize

Things false and vain, and nothing else but lies?

Yet know the Lord hath chose,

Chose to himself apart,

The good and meek of heart

(For whom to choose he knows);
Jehovah from on high

Will hear my voice what time to him I cry.

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Than when a year of glut

Their stores doth over-cloy,

And from their plenteous grounds

With vast increase their corn and wine abounds.

In peace at once will I

Both lay me down and sleep;

For thou alone dost keep

Me safe where'er I lie :

As in a rocky cell

Thou, Lord, alone in safety mak'st me dwell.

PSALM V.

August 12, 1653.

JEHOVAH, to my words give ear,
My meditation weigh;

The voice of my complaining hear,

My King and God, for unto thee I pray.
Jehovah, thou my early voice

Shalt in the morning hear;

I' the morning I to thee with choice

Will rank my prayers, and watch till thou appear.
For thou art not a God that takes
In wickedness delight;

Evil with thee no biding makes ;

Fools or mad men stand not within thy sight.
All workers of iniquity

Thou hat'st; and them unblest

Thou wilt destroy that speak a lie ;

The bloody and guileful man God doth detest.
But I will in thy mercies dear,

Thy numerous mercies, go
Into thy house; I, in thy fear,

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Will towards thy holy temple worship low.
Lord, lead me in thy righteousness,
Lead me, because of those

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