Psalm XXXVIII. Domine ne in furore tuo arguas me, &c.
I
The III. Penitential Psalm of David.
Lord, in Thy wrath rebuke me not,
Nor in Thy fury chasten me;
For such weak things that Fornace is too hot,
And by my clay no more endur'd can be,
Than my injustice, and repeated wrongs by Thee.
II
In vain Thy wrath I strive to fly,
And from my self in vain make haste;
For, lo, the dart, by which I needs must die,
At once has pierc'd, and in my side sticks fast,
By no hand to be drawn, but His, from whence 'twas cast.
III
'Tis Thou alone my life must save,
For not my least part, Lord, is sound;
My bones with rottenness prevent the grave,
Turn'd to that dust, the dead are, under ground,
And my whole body is, all o're, but one great wound.
IV
My sins, like billows, o're me roll,
The sinner all engag'd to drown;
And with huge weights so press my helpless Soul,
That it, unable to resist lyes down
Under the load, that's yet made heavier by Thy frown.
V
Uneasie weight, which as it lies
New galls and bruises me all o're,
Under whose burden I scarce hope to rise,
For if I do, I shall afresh but roar,
As long as that remains, which caus'd at first my sore.
VI
My foolishness, which like a fire,
That inward burns, takes reins, and heart,
Fed with that blood, by which it should expire,
Seising, e're felt, the best, and noblest part,
Beyond the cure of herbs, or helpless Physicks art.
VII
Thus weak, and broken, thus cast down,
To Thee alone my prayers I make,
Who all my sighs, and tears, and wounds hast known,
And the great cure canst only undertake,
Now all my friends, me, as a dying man, forsake.
VIII
Nor is this all; my Enemies
Least I should scape, new toyls prepare;
Their tongues speak out the malice of their eyes,
And, what too long they had conceal'd, declare;
Lord, what's their hand, if even their words thus cruel are?
IX
As one past hope they of me speak,
And think by that to make me fear;
But all their words, nor can my silence break,
Nor them convince, that I so much as hear;
Without reproofs as dumb, patient as without ear.
X
But Thou, O God, art my great trust,
And unto Thee my heart do's pray;
Hear me, My God, lest they who so much boast,
Seeing me fall, presumptuously inveigh,
'Twas caus'd by theirs, when Thou but took'st Thy hand away.
XI
I know I have deserv'd to fall,
And even to Hell to be cast down;
But let my tears Thy help, and pardon call!
I grieve, Thou see'st, and my transgressions own,
Forbear Thine, Lord, where sentence has already gone.
XII
For this my Enemies encrease,
My sins, I know, have made them strong;
For this all thoughts of former kindness cease,
And my just deeds they recompense with wrong;
Yet still I'll follow Thee, though th' way be rough & long.
XIII
Forsake me not, but be my guide,
And lead me, that I never stray:
For should'st Thou go too fast before, or hide
Thy gracious sight, I should benighted stay,
And still the more I sought, the more should lose my way.
