A paraphrase upon the Psalms of David by George Sandys ; set to new tunes for private devotion and a thorough-base for voice or instrument by Henry Lawes ; and in this edition carefully revised and corrected from many errors which passed in former impressions by John Playford.

PSALM LV.

* 1.1LOrd, to my Prayers incline thine Ear; Th' afflicted hear: Nor be thou Deaf to my complaint; For O I faint! Regard the sighs, the groans, the cries, Which from my pensive Soul arise.

Rais'd by the threatnings of my Foe, Which storm-like grow; And by blood thirsty Violence; Truth my offence: Who slander with their wounding Tongues, And press me unto Death with wrongs.

My heart, a stranger unto rest, Throbs in my breast: The terrours of approaching Death Exhaust my breath. My sinews trembling Fear dissolves, And Horror all my Powers involves.

O that with Dove-like wings I might Take my swift flight, To calm Retreats of rest, where I Conceal'd might lie! Then would I find some Wilderness, Removed far from mans access.

Then all these Tempests, which arise With hideous noise; And with their dreadful Tumults make My Heart to quake; I would, far swifter than the Wind, Or winged Lightnings leave behind.

Lord,* 1.2 swallow those, who swell with pride; Their Tongues divide: For Strife, and Violence, bent to kill, The City fill: Both Day and Night they walk the Round; Rape, Mischief, Tears, within abound.

Wild Outrages her streets profane, And boldly reign: Fraud lurking in her Palaces, Conspires with these. For I, had he his hate profest, Had shunn'd, or should his wrongs digest.

But thou, my Friend, even of my Heart The better Part; To so intire a union grown, As if but one: Gods House we daily visited, Both sweetly by one Counsel led.

Let Death devour them; let them dive To Hell alive. With mischief their proud roofs abound Their hearts unsound: But God my Soul shall dis-enthrall; For I upon his Name will call.

* 1.3My Prayers shall with the Suns uprise, Ascend the Skies; Renew'd, when he at Noon displays His fervent Rays; When he behind the Earth descends, And Day, out-worn with labour, ends.

My Cries shall penetrate the Sphears, And pierce his Ears. He shall my captive Soul release, And crown with Peace. For in the Fervor of the Fight, His Angels shall protect my Right.

Th' Eternal Judge, Jehovah, shall Confound them all; Who only change from bad to worse, Nor fear his Curse. Sweet Peace he violated hath, And broken his obliged Faith.

His Words than Butter smoother farr; His Thoughts of Warr: Words softer than the fluent Oil; Yet bent to Spoil. But thou, my Soul, thy cares impose On God, who will redress thy woes.

The Just he shall confirm with Joy; Th' Unjust destroy. Those who in blood and fraud delight, Shall set in Night, Before their Noon of Life be past. But I on God my hopes have plac'd.

Notes

• * 1.1

  As the 39.
• * 1.2

  Part 2.
• * 1.3

  Part 3.