Psalm CXLVIII. Laudate Dominum de Cœlis.
I
You blessed Souls, who stand before
Th' Eternal King, and so long see
His glory that you changed bee
Into that glory you adore,
Praise your great Founder, and above
Admire His power, and bless His Love!
II
You, who when Lucifer did fall,
Kept your first standing, and remain
Commanders of that mighty Train,
Of which the Lord is Generall:
Angels, extoll th' Almighty King,
And Songs of Triumph to Him sing.
III
Praise Him from whom Thy light do's flow,
Thou, whom as God the World adore,
Renounce that honour, and no more
Usurp a service Thou dost ow!
Praise Him, O Sun, when Thou 'rt most bright,
Whose beams to darkness turn Thy light.
IV
Thou too, who with a borrow'd ray,
When all the Lamps of Heav'n hang out,
In the Nights silence walk'st about,
And with Thy torch restor'st the day:
Fair Moon and Starrs exalt Gods Name,
And in your dance His Power proclaim.
V
Ye Heavens, whom none can comprehend,
Infinite Waters, where the sky
As if beyond it self 'twould fly
Exceeds all thought, yet findes no end,
Praise Him, who farther do's out-go
Your height, than you what ere's below.
VI
He spake the Word, and you were made,
His first Decree has bound you fast,
Appointed you how long to last,
Th' Almighty Word your wandrings stay'd;
Praise Him whose Word so much can do,
And as it made, destroy you too!
VII
Let from the Earth His Praises rise,
All Creatures, whom He plac't below,
Let them their gratefull praises show,
And in that service reach the skies!
Dragons and Whales i'th' consort move
A tunefull Bass to th' Quire above!
VIII
Sea praise Him, when Thy billows roar!
And mustring up the force of th' Main,
The once drown'd World assault again,
And seek i'th' Heav'ns alone a shoar:
Praise Him, who when He moves His hand,
Both stills, and chains Thy waves with sand.
IX
All Meteors praise the Name of God,
Vapors, and Winds that nothing spare,
But of His Wrath the Armies are,
Lightning's His Scepter and His Rod;
Ice praise Him, who makes Thee a rein
To curb swift streams, and back the Main.
X
Mountains at His great Name rise up,
Who so ordain'd by His command,
All in your ranks and orders stand,
Like Piles Heav'ns Arch to underprop:
Praise Him who your rais'd heads did crown,
And low as Hell, not throw you down!
XI
Cedars, who one loft higher go,
And Natures Vanes to Mountains are,
Knowing no other motion there,
Than what the amorous Zephyrs blow:
Plants and Fruit-trees, the pride o'th' Field,
In generous stores your praises yield.
XII
Beast and all Cattell, creeping things,
Insects unminded, the great care
Of Him by whom you formed were,
And Birds who with your downy wings,
Cut the soft air, your Presents bring,
And in wild notes His Praises sing!
XIII
Kings, to whom God His Name do's give,
And as Vice-gods has set on high,
True Portraicts of the Deity,
Praise Him in whom your selves do live,
And who, though Homage is your due,
First made the Right, then gave it you.
XIV
Praise Him all People, every state
And Sex, and Age, Virgins, and Youth
With all the beauteous trains of both,
Or long since born, of born of late;
Praise Him old Men, and since agen
Age speaks you Children, shew y'are Men.
XV
Let the whole World His Praise restore,
And lift above the Firmament,
That Name He counts so excellent,
And what none fully know, adore:
For from the Deep it all things fills,
Up to the Everlasting Hills.
XVI
Israel praise Him, Israel for whom
He made all these, and greater things,
The Land subdu'd, and Potent Kings,
Bringing them thousand Vict'ries home,
Such wonders wrought, and more than this,
Whom He redeem'd, and so made His.
Hallelujah.
