English text
1574 Version
Thou art, O Lord, my strength and stay,
The succour which I crave;
Neglect me not, lest I be like
To them that go to grave.
The voice of thy suppliant hear,
That unto thee doth cry,
When I lift up my hands unto
Thy holy ark most high.
Repute me not among the sort
Of wicked and pervert,
That speak right fair unto their friends,
And think full ill in heart.
According to their handiwork
As they deserve indeed,
And after their inventions,
Let them receive their meed.
For they regard nothing God's works
His law, nor yet his lore,
Therefore will he them and their seed
Destroy for evermore.
To render thanks unto the Lord,
How great a cause have I?
My voice, my prayer, and my complaint,
That heard so willingly.
He is my shield and fortitude,
My buckler in distress;
My hope, my health, my heart's relief;
My song shall him confess.
He is our strength and our defense,
Our enemies to resist,
The health and the salvation
Of his elect by Christ.
Thy people and thy heritage,
Lord, bless, guide, and preserve;
Increase them, Lord, and rule their hearts,
That they may never swerve.
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Another version
Thou art, O Lord, my strength and stay,
The succour which I crave;
Neglect me not, lest I be like
Them that are laid in grave.
My voice and supplications hear,
When unto thee I cry,
When I lift up my hands unto
Thy holy ark most high.
Repute me not among those men
In sin that take their fill,
That speak right fair unto their friends,
But think in heart full ill.
According to those wicked deeds
Which they did most regard,
And after their inventions, Lord,
Let them receive reward.
Because they never mind the works
Of God, he will therefore,
Instead of building of them up,
Destroy them evermore.
To render thanks unto the Lord,
How great a cause have I,
My voice, my pray'r, and my complaint,
That heard so willingly!
He is my shield and fortitude,
My buckler in distress;
My heart rejoiceth greatly, and
My song shall him confess.
He is our strength and our defence,
Our foes for to resist,
The health and the salvation of
His own elect by Christ.
Thy people and thy heritage,
Lord, bless, guide, and preserve;
Increase them, Lord, and rule their hearts,
That they may never swerve.
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English text
O Lord, my rock, to thee I cry,
In sighs consume my breath;
O answer, or I shall become
Like those that sleep in death.
Regard my supplication, Lord,
The cries that I repeat,
With weeping eyes and lifted hands
Before thy mercy seat.
Let me escape the sinners' doom,
Who make a trade of ill;
And ever speak the person fair,
Whose blood they mean to spill.
According to their crimes' extent
Let justice have its course:
Relentless be to them, as they
Have sinn'd without remorse.
Since they the works of God despise,
Nor will his grace adore;
His wrath shall utterly destroy,
And build them up no more.
But I, with due acknowledgment,
His praises will resound,
From whom the cries of my distress
A gracious answer found.
My heart its confidence repos'd
In God, my strength and shield;
In him I trusted, and return'd
Triumphant from the field.
As he hath made my joys complete,
'Tis just that I should raise
The cheerful tribute of my thanks,
And thus resound his praise:
His aiding pow'r supports the troops
That my just cause maintain:
'Twas he advanc'd me to the throne,
'Tis he secures my reign.
Preserve thy chosen, and proceed
Thine heritage to bless;
With plenty prosper them in peace;
In battle with success.
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