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PSAL. I. Done into Verse, 1653.

Bless’d is the man who hath not walk’d astray
In counsel of the wicked, and ith’way
Of sinners hath not stood, and in the seat
Of scorners hath not sate. But in the great
Jehovahs Law is ever his delight,
And in his Law he studies day and night.
He shall be as a tree which planted grows
By watry streams, and in his season knows
To yield his fruit, and his leaf shall not fall,
And what he takes in hand shall prosper all.10
Not so the wicked, but as chaff which fann’d
The wind drives, so the wicked shall not stand
In judgment, or abide their tryal then,
Nor sinners in th’assembly of just men.
For the Lord knows th’upright way of the just,
And the way of bad men to ruine must.

PSAL. II. Done Aug. 8. 1653. Terzetti.

Why do the Gentiles tumult, and the Nations
Muse a vain thing, the Kings of th’earth upstand
With power, and Princes in their Congregations
Lay deep their plots together through each Land,
Against the Lord and his Messiah dear.
Let us break off, say they, by strength of hand
Their bonds, and cast from us, no more to wear,
Their twisted cords: he who in Heaven doth dwell
Shall laugh, the Lord shall scoff them, then severe
Speak to them in his wrath, and in his fell10
And fierce ire trouble them; but I saith hee
Anointed have my King (though ye rebell)
On Sion my holi’ hill. A firm decree
I will declare; the Lord to me hath say’d
Thou art my Son I have begotten thee
This day; ask of me, and the grant is made;
As thy possession I on thee bestow
Th’Heathen, and as thy conquest to be sway’d
Earths utmost bounds: them shalt thou bring full low
With Iron Scepter bruis’d, and them disperse20
Like to a potters vessel shiver’d so.
And now be wise at length ye Kings averse
Be taught ye Judges of the earth; with fear
Jehovah serve, and let your joy converse
With trembling; kiss the Son least he appear
In anger and ye perish in the way
If once his wrath take fire like fuel sere.
Happy all those who have in him their stay.

PSAL. III. Aug. 9. 1653.

When he fled from Absalom.

Lord how many are my foes
How many those
That in arms against me rise
Many are they
That of my life distrustfully thus say,
No help for him in God there lies.
But thou Lord art my shield my glory,
Thee through my story
Th’ exalter of my head I count
Aloud I cry’d10
Unto Jehovah, he full soon reply’d
And heard me from his holy mount.
I lay and slept, I wak’d again,
For my sustain
Was the Lord. Of many millions
The populous rout
I fear not though incamping round about
They pitch against me their Pavillions.
Rise Lord, save me my God for thou
Hast smote ere now20
On the cheek-bone all my foes,
Of men abhor’d
Hast broke the teeth. This help was from the Lord;
Thy blessing on thy people flows.

PSAL. IV. Aug. 10. 1653.

Answer me when I call
God of my righteousness;
In straights and in distress
Thou didst me disinthrall
And set at large; now spare,
Now pity me, and hear my earnest prai’r.
Great ones how long will ye
My glory have in scorn
How long be thus forborn
Still to love vanity,10
To love, to seek, to prize
Things false and vain and nothing else but lies?
Yet know the Lord hath chose
Chose to himself a part
The good and meek of heart
(For whom to chuse he knows)
Jehovah from on high
Will hear my voyce what time to him I crie.
Be aw’d, and do not sin,
Speak to your hearts alone,20
Upon your beds, each one,
And be at peace within.
Offer the offerings just
Of righteousness and in Jehovah trust.
Many there be that say
Who yet will shew us good?
Talking like this worlds brood;
But Lord, thus let me pray,
On us lift up the light
Lift up the favour of thy count’nance bright.30
Into my heart more joy
And gladness thou hast put
Then when a year of glut
Their stores doth over-cloy
And from their plenteous grounds
With vast increase their corn and wine abounds.
In peace at once will I
Both lay me down and sleep
For thou alone dost keep
Me safe where ere I lie40
As in a rocky Cell
Thou Lord alone in safety mak’st me dwell.

PSAL. V. Aug. 12. 1653.

Jehovah to my words give ear
My meditation waigh
The voyce of my complaining hear
My King and God for unto thee I pray.
Jehovah thou my early voyce
Shalt in the morning hear
Ith’morning I to thee with choyce
Will rank my Prayers, and watch till thou appear.
For thou art not a God that takes
In wickedness delight10
Evil with thee no biding makes
Fools or mad men stand not within thy sight.
All workers of iniquity
Thou hat’st; and them unblest
Thou wilt destroy that speak a ly
The bloodi’ and guileful man God doth detest.
But I will in thy mercies dear
Thy numerous mercies go
Into thy house; I in thy fear
Will towards thy holy temple worship low.20
Lord lead me in thy righteousness
Lead me because of those
That do observe if I transgress,
Set thy wayes right before, where my step goes.
For in his faltring mouth unstable
No word is firm or sooth
Their inside, troubles miserable;
An open grave their throat, their tongue they smooth.
God, find them guilty, let them fall
By their own counsels quell’d;30
Push them in their rebellions all
Still on; for against thee they have rebell’d;
Then all who trust in thee shall bring
Their joy, while thou from blame
Defend’st them, they shall ever sing
And shall triumph in thee, who love thy name.
For thou Jehovah wilt be found
To bless the just man still,
As with a shield thou wilt surround
Him with thy lasting favour and good will.40

PSAL. VI. Aug. 13. 1653.

Lord in thine anger do not reprehend me
Nor in thy hot displeasure me correct;
Pity me Lord for I am much deject
Am very weak and faint; heal and amend me,
For all my bones, that even with anguish ake,
Are troubled, yea my soul is troubled sore;
And thou O Lord how long? turn Lord, restore
My soul, O save me for thy goodness sake
For in death no remembrance is of thee;
Who in the grave can celebrate thy praise?10
Wearied I am with sighing out my dayes,
Nightly my Couch I make a kind of Sea;
My Bed I water with my tears; mine Eie
Through grief consumes, is waxen old and dark
Ith’ mid’st of all mine enemies that mark.
Depart all ye that work iniquitie.
Depart from me, for the voice of my weeping
The Lord hath heard, the Lord hath heard my prai’r
My supplication with acceptance fair
The Lord will own, and have me in his keeping.20
Mine enemies shall all be blank and dash’t
With much confusion; then grow red with shame,
They shall return in hast the way they came
And in a moment shall be quite abash’t.

PSAL. VII. Aug. 14. 1653.
Upon the words of Chush the Benjamite against him.

- Lord my God to thee I flie
- Save me and secure me under
- Thy protection while I crie
- Least as a Lion (and no wonder)
- He hast 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,10
- Or to him have render’d less,
- And not fre’d my foe for naught;
- Let th’enemy pursue my soul
- And overtake it, let him tread
- My life down to the earth and roul
- In the dust my glory dead,
- In the dust and there out spread
- Lodge it with dishonour foul.
- Rise Jehovah in thine ire
- Rouze thy self amidst the rage20
- Of my foes that urge like fire;
- And wake for me, their furi’ asswage;
- Judgment here thou didst ingage
- And command which I desire.
- So th’ 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 worlds foundation.30
- 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 lies40
- In him who both just and wise
- Saves th’ upright of Heart at last,
- God is a just Judge and severe,
- And God is every day offended;
- If th’ unjust will not forbear,
- His Sword he whets, his Bow hath bended
- Already, and for him intended
- The tools of death, that waits him near.
- (His arrows purposely made he
- For them that persecute.) Behold50
- He travels big with vanitie,
- Trouble he hath conceav’d of old
- As in a womb, and from that mould
- Hath at length brought forth a Lie,
- He dig’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 ruine steep.60
- Then will I Jehovah’s praise
- According to his justice raise
- And sing the Name and Deitie
- Of Jehovah the most high.

PSAL. VIII. Aug. 14. 1653.

- O Jehovah our Lord how wondrous 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 bearth,
- Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou
- Hast founded strength because of all thy foes
- To stint th’enemy, and slack th’avengers brow
- That bends his rage thy providence to oppose.
- When I behold thy Heavens, thy Fingers art,
- The Moon and Starrs which thou so bright hast set,10
- In the pure firmament, then saith my heart,
- O what is man that thou remembrest yet,
- And think’st upon him; or of man begot
- That him thou visit’st and of him art found;
- Scarce to be less then Gods, thou mad’st his lot,
- With honour and with state thou hast him crown’d.
- O’re the works of thy hand thou mad’st 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 forrest meet.20
- Fowl of the Heavens, and Fish that through the wet
- Sea-paths in shoals do slide. And know no dearth
- O Jehovah our Lord bow wondrous great
- And glorious is thy name through all the earth.

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PSAL. I. Done into Verse, 1653. - John Milton, The Poetical Works of John Milton [1900]

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