The Psalmes of David, from the New Translation of the Bible Turned into Meter ::

Heare me (O Lord!) and let my cry
To Thy bright throne ascend on high.
Hide not Thy face in time of need,
But answer my request with speed.
For all my daies away consume
Like to the smoak, or rising fume.
My bones like fired brands became,
Burnt up & scorch'd in sorrowes flame.

My heart like grass is withered,
And I forget to eat my bread:

189

I wast and pine in daily groanes,
That scarse my flesh cleaves to my bones:
Like Pelicans remov'd from sight,
Or Owles in desarts shunning light:
As sparrowes their lost mates bemoane,
So do I watch, and sit alone.

I with reproach all day am torne
Of enemies against me sworne;
I ashes eat instead of bread,
And drink the tears my sorrows shed.
Which mischeifs from thy wrath are
Since thou who rais'd, hast cast me down.
Thus like the dark declining shade,
Or dying flow'r, I hourely fade.

Yet thou (O Lord dost still endure,
From times successive change secure.
Thou therefore shalt in mercy rise,
And Sion help, which ruin'd lies;
The time is come for hir repaire,
Whose stones and rubbish prized are.
Thy servants pity hir neglect,
And on hir dust with sighs reflect.

So shall the Heathen feare Thy Name,
And Kings Thy Majesty proclaime.
When God shall Sions buildings reare,
And in His glory shall appeare;

186

He will regard the poor man's suit,
And not despise the destitute:
This shall be written for record,
That after Times may praise the Lord.

Second Part.

The Lord from high His beams display'd
And, out of Heaven, earth survay'd;
The Captives fetters to unty,
And Pris'ners save condemn'd to dy.
That so in Sions blessed hill,
And Salem which His wonders fill,
They may His name, and praise declare
When all the people gather'd are.

He hath my strength to weaknes brought,
My Short'ned dayes are come to nought
So that to God I thus did pray;
O take me not as yet away:
Nor cast me off from this lifes stage,
In prime of youth, and mid'st of age.
For though My dayes be few, and fraile
Thy yeares, O God, will never faile.

Thou (Lord) hast earth's foundation lay'd
And by Thy hand the Heav'ns were made
They all shall perish, and decay,
And in their time consume away.
Like to a garment, when grow'n old,
They shall nor use, nor motion hold.

187

But though the world, and they must fall,
Thy Being is perpetuall.

Yea as a vesture worne, and chang'd,
Is from it's gloss and forme estrang'd:
So Shalt Thou change this massy frame;
Yet still Thy selfe abide the same.
And like Thy selfe from changes freed,
Thou wilt prolong Thy servants seed;
Whose children shall remaine with Thee,
And in Thy sight establisht be.

University of Virginia Library

Psal. CII.

[First Part]

Second Part.