The Book of Psalms in English Metre :: :: University of Virginia Library

The Book of Psalms in English Metre

The Newest Version Fitted to the Common Tunes. By Charles Darby

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O God why hast thou cast us off?
Wilt thou thine anger keep?
And shall thy fury ever smoke
Against thy pasture sheep?

Thy chosen flock redeem'd of old,
No longer, Lord, forget:
Thy heritage, and Sion hill,
On which thy house is set.

Come, Lord, and see what wicked work
Thine enemies have made:
How they thy high and holy place,
Have all in ruines laid.

Amidst thy Congregations, Lord,
Thy enemies roar aloud:

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And as a sign of victory,
Advance their banners proud.

By felling trees to build thy house
Of old men got renown:
But now the carved work at once,
Is knock'd and chopped down.

Thy temple they have quite destroy'd,
And set it on a flame:
And say by all thy synagogues,
They mean to do the same.

We see no signs, as we were wont,
And prophet there is none,
To tell how long 'tis like to be,
E'er these sad times be gone.

How long shall they blaspheme thy name?
What, will they never rest?
Then keep not back thy hand, O Lord,
But pluck it from thy breast.

The Lord to be his peoples king,
In times of old was known:
And him the only Saviour,
All men on earth must own.

Thou by my strength did'st part the Sea,
And break the dragons head:
The people in the wilderness,
Upon his carcass fed.

Thou did'st the flood and fountain cleave,
And dry up mighty streams:
The day is thine, the night is thine,
The sun and all his beams.

In all the borders of the earth,
Thy hand has set the bounds:

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Summer and winter thou hast made
To go their wonted rounds.

Remember how thy enemies,
Thy majesty defame:
Consider how the foolish ones
Blaspheme thy holy name.

Deliver not thy turtle dove
To that ungodly throng:
The congregation of the poor,
Forget not over-long.

O think upon the covenant,
For now thy enemies,
In secret corners every where
Their cruel plots devise.

O let them not that are opprest,
Return from thee with shame:
But let the poor and needy ones
Have cause to praise thy name.

Arise, O Lord; plead thine own cause:
Remember, Lord, and see,
How every day the wicked man
Derides and mocks at thee.

Forget not Lord their wicked words,
And horrid blasphemy,
The cry whereof into thine ears
Ascends continually.