Who in the grave can celebrate thy praise?
Wearied I am with sighing out my days,
Nightly my couch I make a kind of sea;
My bed I water with my tears; mine eye
Through grief consumes, is waxen old and dark
I' the midst of all mine enemies that mark.
Depart all ye that work iniquity,

Depart from me, for the voice of my weeping
The Lord hath heard, the Lord hath heard my
My supplication with acceptance fair [prayer,
The Lord will own, and have me in his keeping.
Mine enemies shall all be blank and dash'd

With much confusion; then grown red with shame, They shall return in haste the way they came, And in a moment shall be quite abash'd.

PSALM VII. AUG. 14, 1653.

Upon the words of Chush the Benjamite against him.

LORD my God, to thee I fly,
Save me and secure me under
Thy protection while I cry;
Lest as a lion (and no wonder)
He haste to tear my soul asunder,
Tearing and no rescue nigh.

Lord my God, if I have thought
Or done this, if wickedness
Be in my hands, if I have wrought
Ill to him that meant me peace,
Or to him have render'd less,
And not freed my foe for nought;

Let the enemy pursue my soul
And overtake it, let him tread
My life down to the earth, and roll
In the dust my glory dead,
In the dust and there out-spread
Lodge it with dishonour foul.

Rise Jehovah in thine ire,
Rouse thyself amidst the rage
Of my foes that urge like fire;
And wake for me, their fury 'asswage;
Judgment here thou didst engage
And command which I desire.

So the assemblies of each nation
Will surround thee, seeking right,
Thence to thy glorious habitation
Return on high and in their sight.
Jehovah judgeth most upright
All people from the world's foundation.

Judge me, Lord, be judge in this
According to my righteousness,
And the innocence which is
Upon me: cause at length to cease
Of evil men the wickedness
And their power that do amiss.

But the just establish fast,

Since thou art the just God that tries
Hearts and reins. On God is cast
My defence, and in him lies,
In him who, both just and wise,
Saves the upright of heart at last.

God is a just judge and severe,
And God is every day offended;
If the unjust will not forbear,

His sword he whets, his bow hath bended
Already, and for him intended

The tools of death, that wait him near.

His arrows purposely made he
For them that persecute.

Behold,
He travels big with vanity,
Trouble he hath conceiv'd of old,
As in a womb, and from that mould
Hath at length brought forth a lie.

He digg'd a pit, and delv'd it deep,
And fell into the pit he made;

His mischief that due course doth keep,
Turns on his head, and his ill trade
Of violence will undelay'd

Fall on his crown with ruin steep.

Then will I Jehovah's praise
According to his justice raise,
And sing the Name and Deity
Of Jehovah the Most High.

PSALM VIII. AUG. 14, 1653.

O JEHOVAH Our Lord, how wonderous great
And glorious is thy Name through all the earth!
So as above the Heavens thy praise to set

Out of the tender mouths of latest birth.

Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou
Hast founded strength, because of all thy foes,
To stint the enemy, and slack the avenger's brow,
That bends his rage thy providence to oppose.

When I behold thy Heavens, thy finger's art,
The moon and stars which thou so bright hast set
In the pure firmament, then saith my heart,

O what is man that thou rememberest yet,

And think'st upon him; or of man begot,

That him thou visit'st, and of him art found? Scarce to be less than Gods, thou madest his lot, With honour and with state thou hast him crown'd.

O'er the works of thy hand thou madest him Lord,
Thou hast put all under his lordly feet,
All flocks, and herds, by thy commanding word,
All beasts that in the field or forest meet;

Fowls of the Heavens, and fish that through the wet
Sea-paths in shoals do slide, and know no dearth.
O Jehovah our Lord, how wonderous great

And glorious is thy Name through all the earth!

APRIL, 1648. J. M.

Nine of the Psalms done into metre, wherein all, but what is within inverted commas, are the very words of the text, translated from the original.

PSALM LXXX.

1 THOU Shepherd, that dost Israel 'keep,' Give ear' in time of need,'

Who leadest like a flock of sheep
'Thy loved' Joseph's seed,

That sitest between the Cherubs' bright,
Between their wings outspread,'

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Shine forth, and from thy cloud give light,
And on our foes thy dread.'

2 In Ephraim's view and Benjamin's, And in Manasse's sight,

Awake thy strength, come, and be seen
To' save us by thy might.'

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3 Turn us again, thy grace

divine

To us,' O God, vouchsafe;' Cause thou thy face on us to shine,

And then we shall be safe.

4 Lord God of Hosts, how long wilt thou, How long wilt thou declare

Thy smoking wrath, and angry brow'
Against thy people's prayer!

5 Thou feed'st them with the bread of tears,
Their bread with tears they eat,
And mak'st them largely drink the tears
'Wherewith their cheeks are wet.'

6 A strife thou makest us and a prey'
To every neighbour foe,

Among themselves they laugh, they play,
And flouts at us they throw.

7 Return us, and thy grace divine,'

O God of Hosts,

vouchsafe,'

Cause thou thy face on us to shine,

And then we shall be safe.

8 A vine from Egypt thou hast brought,

'Thy free love made it thine,'

And drov'st out nations, ' proud and haught,' To plant this lovely' vine.

9 Thou didst prepare for it a place,
And root it deep and fast,
That it 'began to grow apace,
And' fill'd the land at last.'

10 With her 'green' shade that cover'd' all,' The hills were overspread,'

Her boughs as 'high as' cedars tall
'Advanc'd their lofty head.'

11 Her branches 'on the western side'
Down to the sea she sent,

And upward' to that river 'wide'
Her other branches' went.'

2 Why hast thou laid her hedges low,
And broken down her fence,

That all may pluck her, as they go,
'With rudest violence?'

13 The 'tusked' boar out of the wood
Up turns it by the roots,

Wild beasts there browse, and make their food
'Her grapes and tender shoots.'

14 Return now, God of Hosts, look down
From Heaven, thy seat divine,
Behold 'us, but without a frown,'
And visit this 'thy' vine.

15 Visit this vine, which thy right hand
Hath set, and planted 'long,'

And the young branch, that for thyself
Thou hast made firm and strong.

16 But now it is consumed with fire,
And cut with axes' down;
They perish at thy dreadful ire,
At thy rebuke and frown.

17 Upon the man of thy right hand
Let thy good' hand be laid'
Upon the son of man, whom thou
Strong for thyself hast made.

18 So shall we not go back from thee

To ways of sin and shame,'

Quicken us thou, then 'gladly' we

Shall call upon thy Name.

19 Return us, and thy grace divine,'
Lord God of Hosts, 'vouchsafe;'
Cause thou thy face on us to shine,
And then we shall be safe.

PSALM LXXXI.

1 To God our strength sing loud, and clear,' Sing loud to God 'our King,'

To Jacob's God, 'that all may hear,'
Loud acclamations ring.

2 Prepare a hymn, prepare a song,
The timbrel hither bring,

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The cheerful' psaltery bring along,
And harp with' pleasant string.'