Psalm LXXI.
1
Lord let me not be put to shame,
Because I trust in thee:
But as thou art a righteous God,
O hear and rescue me.
2
Be thou my habitation strong,
To which I may resort.
Thy promise is to save me, Lord:
Thou art my fence and fort.
3
Save me O Lord, from wicked hands,
From cruel and unjust:
For thou, O God ev'n from my youth,
Hast been my hope and trust.
4
Both at my birth and ever since
Thou hast upholden me:
Therefore my praise continually,
Of thee alone shall be.
5
Though many gaze and mock at me,
Thou art my strength and stay:
Therefore my mouth shall sing thy praise,
And honour all the day.
6
When strength through age begins to fail,
O Lord forsake me not:
For secretly against my life,
My foes consult and plot.
7
Pursue and take him now, say they,
For God doth him forsake:
Then be not far from me, O Lord,
But hast my part to take.
8
These adversaries of my Soul,
O Lord confound them quite:
And let dishonour cover them,
That in my hurt delight.
9
But I will hope continually,
And praise thee more and more:
All day I will declare thy Acts,
And mercies heretofore.
10
Thy mercies, Lord, are numberless:
I in thy strength will go,
And tell the great and righteous acts
Which thou alone canst do.
11
Lord, thou hast taught me from my youth,
And I thy acts have told:
Now leave me not, O Lord my God,
When I am gray and old.
12
Till I unto the present age
Thy mighty works have shown:
That to the Ages yet to come
Thy Power may be known.
13
Thy Judgments, Lord, are very high,
And great thy doings are:
For who is like to thee, O God,
Or may with thee compare?
14
When I had sore Afflictions seen,
The Lord did me revive:
And from the jewels of the earth
Hast brought me up alive.
15
Now comfort me on every side,
And raise me higher yet:
And I upon the Psaltery
Thy Praises will repeat.
16
My harp shall sound, O holy one
Of Israel, to thee
My heart and tongue to thee shall sing,
Who hast redeemed me.
17
And all day long thy justice tell,
Who hast to ruin brought,
And with confusion cover'd them,
That my destruction sought.
