The later poems of John Clare 1837-1864 ... General editor Eric Robinson: Edited by Eric Robinson and David Powell: Associate editor Margaret Grainger |
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 | The later poems of John Clare |  |
115
DAVIDS PRAYER
Who am I my God & my Lord
& what is my house in thy eye
Thou hast brought me here of thy sovereign accord
& cloathed me in majesty
& what is my house in thy eye
Thou hast brought me here of thy sovereign accord
& cloathed me in majesty
Yet this was a trifling thing unto thee
Thou hast spoke of thy servant whose house is to last
Like a man of estate & of noble degree
O God though in lowness his lot hath been cast
Thou hast spoke of thy servant whose house is to last
Like a man of estate & of noble degree
O God though in lowness his lot hath been cast
What can David speak more unto thee
For the honour of thy servant—or need
For thou knowest thy servant was of humble degree
& exaltest him highly indeed
For the honour of thy servant—or need
For thou knowest thy servant was of humble degree
& exaltest him highly indeed
O Lord for thy servants sake only
Hath thou done all this greatness to me
According to thy own heart thou blessed me once lonely
For all these great things are of thee
Hath thou done all this greatness to me
According to thy own heart thou blessed me once lonely
For all these great things are of thee
O Lord there is none beside thee
No other God living but thou
According to all that we hear or we see
From our beings beginning 'till now
No other God living but thou
According to all that we hear or we see
From our beings beginning 'till now
There is no God but one—on the land or the sea
According to all we have heard with our ears
What nation is like to thy people now free
Israel redeemed of the Lord in their fears
According to all we have heard with our ears
What nation is like to thy people now free
Israel redeemed of the Lord in their fears
116
God went to redeem them & make them a name
Of greatness & terribleness—even like thee
Driveing out nations from before them like flame
The redeemed from proud Egypt—who conquored the sea
Of greatness & terribleness—even like thee
Driveing out nations from before them like flame
The redeemed from proud Egypt—who conquored the sea
For Israel thy people thou madest thine own
& thou Lord became their own God e'en as mine
Let the thing thou hast spoke of thy servant be done
& his house be established forever as thine
& thou Lord became their own God e'en as mine
Let the thing thou hast spoke of thy servant be done
& his house be established forever as thine
Do as thou hast said—be of goodness the giver
Let it even be established o Lord as thy will
That thy name may be magnified now & forever
& the true God be God of all Israel still
Let it even be established o Lord as thy will
That thy name may be magnified now & forever
& the true God be God of all Israel still
& a God to all Israel now & for aye
& the house of king David be established of thee
For thou o my God told thy servant that day
Thou wouldst build him a house—even so let it be
& the house of king David be established of thee
For thou o my God told thy servant that day
Thou wouldst build him a house—even so let it be
Therefore thy servant hath found in his heart
To pray before thee—& he knows from his soul
Thou art God & has promised thy love to impart
To thy servant as long as the seasons shall roll
To pray before thee—& he knows from his soul
Thou art God & has promised thy love to impart
To thy servant as long as the seasons shall roll
The house of thy servant let it please thee to bless
That it may be before thee the boon & the giver
All nature & life doth thy bounty confess
& all that thou blesseth—is blessed & forever
That it may be before thee the boon & the giver
All nature & life doth thy bounty confess
& all that thou blesseth—is blessed & forever
| The later poems of John Clare | |