PSALM VI. AUG. 13, 1653.

LORD, in thine anger do not reprehend me,
Nor in thy hot displeasure me correct;
Pity me, Lord, for I am much deject,

5

And very weak and faint; heal and amend me :
For all my bones, that e'en with anguish ache,
Are troubled, yea, my soul is troubled sore,
And thou, O Lord, how long? Turn, Lord, restore
My soul, O save me for thy goodness sake:
For in death no remembrance is of thee;

Who in the grave can celebrate thy praise?
Wearied I am with sighing out my days,
Nightly my couch I make a kind of sea;
My bed I water with my tears; mine eye
Through grief consumes, is waxen old and dark
I' th' midst of all mine enemies that mark.

Depart from me, for the voice of my weeping

10

15

The Lord hath heard, the Lord hath heard my

prayer,

My supplication with acceptance fair

The Lord will own, and have me in his keeping. 20 Mine enemies shall all be blank and dash'd

With much confusion; then grown red with shame, They shall return in haste the way they came, And in a moment shall be quite abash'd.

21 blank] Comus, 452.

'that dash'd brute violence

With sudden adoration and blank awe.' Warton.

PSALM VII. AUG. 14, 1653.

UPON THE WORDS OF CHUSH THE BENJAMITE AGAINST HIM.

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.

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;

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.

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.

5

10

15

20

So th' 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

25

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.

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.

35

40

God is a just judge and severe,

And God is every day offended;

If the unjust will not forbear,

45

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

50

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.

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.

55

60

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 foes,
To stint th' enemy, and slack th' avenger's brow,

That bends his rage thy providence t' oppose.

5

7 stint th' enemy] A violent cæsure in the last syllable of 'enemy.' See above, Ps. v. 16. Ps. vii. 22. Warton. But perhaps it should be pronounced en'my.

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, 15 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,

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.

20

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,