A translation of the psalms of David attempted in the Spirit of Christianity, and adapted to the divine service. By Christopher Smart |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. |
| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXII. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXXIV. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XXXIX. | PSALM XXXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
| XLIII. |
| XLIV. |
| XLV. |
| XLVI. |
| XLVII. |
| XLVIII. |
| XLIX. |
| L. |
| LI. |
| LII. |
| LIII. |
| LIV. |
| LV. |
| LVI. |
| LVII. |
| LVIII. |
| LIX. |
| LX. |
| LXI. |
| LXII. |
| LXIII. |
| LXIV. |
| LXV. |
| LXVI. |
| LXVII. |
| LXVIII. |
| LXIX. |
| LXX. |
| LXXI. |
| LXXII. |
| LXXIII. |
| LXXIV. |
| LXXV. |
| LXXVI. |
| LXXVII. |
| LXXVIII. |
| LXXIX. |
| LXXX. |
| LXXXI. |
| LXXXII. |
| LXXXIII. |
| LXXXIV. |
| LXXXV. |
| LXXXVI. |
| LXXXVII. |
| LXXXVIII. |
| LXXXIX. |
| XC. |
| XCI. |
| XCII. |
| XCIII. |
| XCIV. |
| XCV. |
| XCVI. |
| XCVII. |
| XCVIII. |
| XCIX. |
| C. |
| CI. |
| CII. |
| CIII. |
| CIV. |
| CV. |
| CVI. |
| CVII. |
| CVIII. |
| CIX. |
| CX. |
| CXI. |
| CXII. |
| CXIII. |
| CXIV. |
| CXV. |
| CXVI. |
| CXVII. |
| CXVIII. |
| CXIX. |
| CXX. |
| CXXI. |
| CXXII. |
| CXXIII. |
| CXXIV. |
| CXXV. |
| CXXVI. |
| CXXVII. |
| CXXVIII. |
| CXXIX. |
| CXXX. |
| CXXXI. |
| CXXXII. |
| CXXXIII. |
| CXXXIV. |
| CXXXV. |
| CXXXVI. |
| CXXXVII. |
| CXXXVIII. |
| CXXXIX. |
| CXL. |
| CXLI. |
| CXLII. |
| CXLIII. |
| CXLIV. |
| CXLV. |
| CXLVI. |
| CXLVII. |
| CXLVIII. |
| CXLIX. |
| CL. |
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 | A translation of the psalms of David |  |
37
PSALM XXXIX.
With severest circumspection
I will guard my ways, I said,
Lest at any time objection
To my converse should be made.
I will guard my ways, I said,
Lest at any time objection
To my converse should be made.
And my mouth as with a bridle
I will carefully restrain,
While the reprobate and idle
In my wearied sight remain.
I will carefully restrain,
While the reprobate and idle
In my wearied sight remain.
With such rigour of suppression
Was I mute, that I forbore
Ev'n from words of good discretion,
But I was afflicted sore.
Was I mute, that I forbore
Ev'n from words of good discretion,
But I was afflicted sore.
As I ponder'd with vexation,
My sad heart within me burn'd
Till it caused an inflammation,
When my wonted speech return'd.
My sad heart within me burn'd
Till it caused an inflammation,
When my wonted speech return'd.
Lord, by thy divine monition
Let me calculate my days,
That their length and their condition
May have influence on my ways.
Let me calculate my days,
That their length and their condition
May have influence on my ways.
Lo! a span is the dimension
Of my life, and all my reign
Is not worthy thine attention—
Surely every man is vain.
Of my life, and all my reign
Is not worthy thine attention—
Surely every man is vain.
For in vain himself aggrieving
'Tis a shadow man pursues,
Gathering riches, nor conceiving
Who the hoarded heap shall use.
'Tis a shadow man pursues,
Gathering riches, nor conceiving
Who the hoarded heap shall use.
Where is therefore my affiance,
To what shelter shall I flee?
Truly, Lord, my sole reliance
And my hope is placed in Thee.
To what shelter shall I flee?
Truly, Lord, my sole reliance
And my hope is placed in Thee.
With thy hand of mercy lenient
Heal me, where my conscience wounds;
Stop the jesting inconvenient,
Which from thence the scoffer grounds.
Heal me, where my conscience wounds;
Stop the jesting inconvenient,
Which from thence the scoffer grounds.
I was of my speech divested,
And no more my lips could move,
For thy pow'r is uncontested,
When thou wouldst our patience prove.
And no more my lips could move,
For thy pow'r is uncontested,
When thou wouldst our patience prove.
Cease the stripes of thy displeasure,
Which I can no longer stand;
I am wasted out of measure
By thy strict afflicting hand.
Which I can no longer stand;
I am wasted out of measure
By thy strict afflicting hand.
Thy severe compunctions goading,
All our beauties fade and wane,
As the wool by moths corroding;
Surely every man is vain.
All our beauties fade and wane,
As the wool by moths corroding;
Surely every man is vain.
Hear my prayer, O Lord, as falling
On my face to thee I cry,
Let thine ears attend my calling,
And to these my tears reply.
On my face to thee I cry,
Let thine ears attend my calling,
And to these my tears reply.
For with Thee I am a stranger,
And a pilgrim's lot I share;
Train'd in hardship and in danger,
Ev'n as all my fathers were.
And a pilgrim's lot I share;
Train'd in hardship and in danger,
Ev'n as all my fathers were.
For a little space O spare me,
And my strength a while restore,
Ere thy final sentence bear me
To be seen on earth no more.
And my strength a while restore,
Ere thy final sentence bear me
To be seen on earth no more.
| A translation of the psalms of David | |