English text
Ye men on earth, in God rejoice,
With praise set forth his name;
Exalt his might with heart and voice,
Give glory to the same.
How wonderful, O Lord, say ye,
In all thy works thou art!
Thy foes for fear shall seek to thee,
Full sore against their heart.
All men that dwell the earth throughout
Shall praise the name of God;
The laud whereof the world about
Is shew'd and set abroad.
All folk come forth, behold and see
What things the Lord hath wrought;
Mark well the wondrous works that he
For men to pass hath brought.
He laid the sea like heaps on high,
Therein a way they had
On foot to pass, both fair and dry,
Whereof their hearts were glad.
His might doth rule the world alway,
His eyes all things behold;
And such as will him disobey,
By him shall be controll'd.
Ye people, give unto our God
Due laud and thanks always;
With joyful voice declare abroad,
And sing unto his praise:
Who doth endue our soul with life,
And it preserve withal;
He stays our feet, so that no strife
Can make us slip or fall.
The Lord doth prove our deeds with fire,
Whether they will abide,
As workmen do when they desire
To have their metals tried.
Although thou dost us suffer long
In prison to be cast,
And there with chains and fetters strong
To lie in bondage fast;
The Second Part.
Although, I say, thou suffer men
On us to ride and reign:
Though we through fire and water run
With very grief and pain;
Yet sure thou dost of thy good grace
Dispose it to the best,
Bringing us out into a place
To live in wealth and rest.
Unto thy house resort will I
To offer and to pray;
And there I will myself apply
My vows to thee to pay:
The vows that with my mouth I spake
In all my grief and smart;
The vows, I say, which I did make
In anguish of my heart.
Burnt-off'rings I will give to thee
Of oxen fat, and rams,
Yea, this my sacrifice shall be
Of bullocks, goats, and lambs.
Come forth and hearken here full soon,
All ye that fear the Lord;
What he for my poor soul hath done
To you I will record.
Full oft I call to mind his grace,
This mouth to him doth cry:
And thou, my tongue, make speedy pace
To praise him joyfully.
But if I feel my heart within
In wicked works rejoice,
Or if I have delight in sin,
God will not hear my voice.
But surely God my voice hath heard,
And what I do require;
My prayer also he doth regard,
And granteth my desire.
All praise to him that hath not put
Nor cast me out of mind,
Nor yet his mercy from me shut,
Which I do ever find.
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Metrical 'New Version' (Tate & Brady)
English text
Let all the lands with shouts of joy
To God their voices raise;
Sing psalms in honour of his name,
And spread his glorious praise.
And let them say, How dreadful, Lord,
In all thy works art thou!
To thy great pow'r thy stubborn foes
Shall all be forc'd to bow.
Through all the earth the nations round
Shall thee their God confess;
And with glad hymns their awful dread
Of thy great name express.
O come, behold the works of God,
And then with me you'll own,
That he to all the sons of men
Has wondrous judgments shown.
He made the sea become dry land,
Through which our fathers walk'd;
Whilst to each other of his might
With joy his people talk'd.
He by his pow'r for ever rules;
His eyes the world survey;
Let no presumptuous man rebel
Against his sov'reign sway.
The Second Part.
O all ye nations, bless our God,
And loudly speak his praise;
Who keeps our soul alive, and still
Confirms our steadfast ways.
For thou hast tried us, Lord, as fire
Does try the precious ore;
Thou brought'st us into straits, where we
Oppressing burdens bore.
Insulting foes did us, their slaves,
Through fire and water chase;
But yet at last thou brought'st us forth
Into a wealthy place.
Burnt off'rings to thy house I'll bring,
And there my vows will pay,
Which I with solemn zeal did make
In trouble's dismal day.
Then shall the richest incense smoke,
The fattest rams shall fall;
The choicest goats from out the fold,
And bullocks from the stall.
O come, all ye that fear the Lord,
Attend with heedful care ;
Whilst I what God for me has done
With grateful joy declare.
As I before his aid implor'd,
So now I praise his name;
Who, if my heart had harbour'd sin,
Would all my pray'rs disclaim.
But God to me, whene'er I cried,
His gracious ear did bend;
And to the voice of my request
With constant love attend.
Then bless'd for ever be my God,
Who never, when I pray,
Withholds his mercy from my soul,
Nor turns his face away.
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