Metrical 'Old Version' (John Hopkins)
English text
Have mercy, Lord, on me, I pray,
For man would me devour:
He fighteth with me day by day,
And troubleth me each hour.
My foes do daily enterprise
To swallow me outright;
To fight against me many rise,
O thou Most High of might.
When they would make me sore afraid
With boasts and brags of pride,
I trust in thee alone for aid,
By thee I will abide.
God's promise I do mind and praise,
O Lord, I stick to thee;
I do not care at all essays
What flesh can do to me.
What things I either did or spake,
They wrest them at their will;
And all the counsel that they take
Is how to work me ill:
They all consent themselves to hide,
Close watch for me to lay;
They spy my paths, and snares have try'd
To take my life away.
Shall they escape, on mischief set?
Thou, God, on them wilt frown;
For in thy wrath thou dost not let
To throw whole kingdoms down.
Thou seest how oft they made me flee,
And on my tears dost look;
Reserve them in a glass by thee,
And write them in thy book.
When I do call upon thy Name,
My foes away do start;
I well perceive it by the same
That God doth take my part.
I glory in the word of God,
To praise it I accord,
With joy I will declare abroad
The promise of the Lord.
I trust in God the Lord, and say,
As I before began,
The Lord he is my help and stay,
I do not care for man.
I will perform with heart most free
My vows to God always,
And I, O Lord, all times to thee
Will offer thanks and praise.
My soul from death thou dost defend,
And keep'st my feet upright,
That I before thee may ascend
With such as live in light.
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New Version Metrical Psalter (Tate & Brady)
English text
1. Do thou, O God, in mercy help,
for man my life pursues;
To crush me with repeated wrongs
he daily strife renews.
2. Continually my spiteful foes
to ruin me combine;
Thou seest, who sitt'st enthroned on high,
what mighty numbers join.
3. But though sometimes surprised by fear,
(on danger's first alarm,)
Yet still for succor I depend
on thy Almighty arm.
4. God's faithful promise I shall praise:
on which I now rely:
In God I trust, and, trusting him,
the arm of flesh defy.
5. They wrest my words, and make them speak
a sense they never meant:
Their thoughts are all, with restless spite,
on my destruction bent.
6. In close assemblies they combine,
and wicked projects lay;
They watch my steps, and lie in wait
to make my soul their prey.
7. Shall such injustice still escape?
O righteous God, arise;
Let thy just wrath, (too long provoked,)
this impious race chastise.
8. Thou number'st all my steps, since first
I was compelled to flee;
My very tears are treasured up,
and registered by thee.
9. When therefore I invoke thy aid,
my foes shall be o'erthrown;
For I am well assured that God
my righteous cause will own.
10,11. I'll trust God's word, and so despise
the force that man can raise;
12. To thee, O God, my vows are due;
to thee I'll render praise.
13. Thou hast retrieved my soul from death,
and thou wilt still secure
The life thou hast so oft preserved,
and make my footsteps sure;
That thus protected by thy pow'r
I may this light enjoy,
And in the service of my God
my lengthened days employ.
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English text
O Thou whose justice reigns on high,
And makes the oppressor cease,
Behold how envious sinners try
To vex and break my peace.
The sons of violence and lies
Join to devour me, Lord;
But as my hourly dangers rise,
My refuge is thy word.
In God most holy, just, and true,
I have reposed my trust;
Nor will I fear what flesh can do,
The offspring of the dust.
They wrest my words to mischief still,
Charge me with unknown faults;
Mischief doth all their counsels fill,
And malice all their thoughts.
Shall they escape without thy frown?
Must their devices stand?
O cast the haughty sinner down,
And let him know thy hand.
God counts the sorrows of his saints,
Their groans affect his ears;
Thou hast a book for my complaints,
A bottle for my tears.
When to thy throne I raise my cry,
The wicked fear and flee;
So swift is prayer to reach the sky,
So near is God to me.
In thee, most holy, just, and true,
I have reposed my trust;
Nor will I fear what man can do,
The offspring of the dust.
Thy solemn vows are on me, Lord,
Thou shalt receive my praise;
I'll sing, "How faithful is thy word,
How righteous all thy ways!"
Thou hast secured my soul from death,
O set thy prisoner free!
That heart and hand, and life and breath,
May be employ'd for thee.
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