A new version of the Psalms of David: together with all the church-hymns, into metre, smooth, plain and easie to the most ordinary capacities: and yet as close to the original languages, and the last and best English translation, as the nature of such a work will well permit. By Simon Ford, D.D. and rector of Old Swinford in Worcestershire.

[Another Version of the 119 Ps To the usual Tune.] Blessed are they, &c.

Part I.

[verse 1] BLest men are they that heedfull are To shun foul ways of sin: Who the Lord's Law with constant care Observe to walk therein: [verse 2] Who from his testimonies take The ru'es that guide their pace: And their whole hearts whole business make The seeking of his face.

[verse 3] Such men can never with design One wicked action do: His ways, which wand'ring lusts confine, They constantly pursue. [verse 4] In duty bound, and conscience, By thy Command are we, That kept with strictest diligence By us thy Precepts be.

[verse 5] O that (thy grace assisting) I My ways so straight could lay: That from thy Statutes, wilfully, My steps might never stray! [verse 6] So shall I all the shame decline Which doth loose lives pursue; Whiles unto all Commands of thine A like respect I shew. [verse 7]

From an heart fill'd with love unfeign'd Thy praise I will declare: When, taught by thee, I understand How just thy Judgments are. [verse 8] With fixed purpose of my heart Thy Statutes keep will I: And leave me utterly.

Part II.

[verse 9] What may an youthfull person do, To cleanse his way, O Lord? Let him take constant heed thereto, According to thy word. [verse 10] My heart entire, with full design To seek thee, I apply'd: From that which thy commands enjoyn Let me not wander wide.

[verse 11] Thy word most faithfully within My heart laid up have I: That aw'd by it, I might not sin Against thy Majesty. [verse 12] Blest art thou, Lord, and blessing is Deriv'd to us from thee: That I may know the way to bless, Thy Statutes then teach me.

[verse 13] Of all the Judgments, from above, By thine own mouth declar'd,

My lips (inspir'd with holy love) To speak have never spar'd. [verse 14] Whiles in thy Testimonies I Walk with an heart most glad, Its joy abounds, and runs as high, As if all wealth I had.

[verse 15] My meditating thoughts unto Thy Precepts I'll direct: And, sted fastly in them to go, Thy ways I will respect. [verse 16] Upon thy righteous Statutes, I My whole delight will set: Nor shall my faithless memory Thy holy Word forget.

Part III.

[verse 17] Thy loving kindness unto me Thy servant so afford, That my frail life prolong'd may be, To keep thy holy word. [verse 18] The veil that hides mine eyes, withdraw, That so I may behold Th' amazing wonders, which thy Law In figures doth infold.

[verse 19] Whiles upon earth I do reside, I'm but a stranger there: O let not thy commands be hid From me, my course to steer. [verse 20] My soul with long and strong desire Sore broken is, and pain'd:

After thy Judgments to enquire No time hath it refrain'd.

[verse 21] Rebuk'd by thee, and curs'd they stand, Who, swoll'n with haughty pride, From what thou giv'st them in command, Profanely turn aside. [verse 22] Thy testimonies kept with care Have ever been by me: From the reproach and scorn I bear, Do thou then, set me free.

[verse 23] Great Princes too, consulting sate, Thy servants bloud to spill: But I, mean while, did meditate Thy Statutes to fulfill. [verse 24] Thy testimonies too, I'll make My souls entire delight: And from them daily counsel take, To guide my life aright.

Part IV.

[verse 25] My fainting soul unto the dust Cleaves fast through grief, and pain: Perform thy word, on which I trust, And quicken me again. [verse 26] My past ways when I did declare, My voice thine ear did reach: That I their errours may repair. To me thy Statutes teach. [verse 27]

The way, wherein thy Precepts lead, Make me to know, and walk: Then all thy wond'rous works to spread, My tongue shall freely talk. [verse 28] My Soul with heaviness opprest, Consumes, and melts away: O let thy word, on which I rest, Repair my strengths decay.

[verse 29] All lying ways what e'r they be, From me do thou remove: And thy Laws knowledg unto me Grant of thy tender Love. [verse 30] The certain way of saving truth By choyce mine own I made: And all the Judgments of thy mouth Before mine Eyes I laid.

[verse 31] Unto thy testimonies, I Did constantly adhere: The shame of foul Apostasie, Lord, let me never bear. [verse 32] I'll run the way with cheerfull pace By thy Commands enjoyn'd: Whereto I find my heart (thy grace Enlarging it) inclin'd.

Part V.

[verse 33] O Lord, instruct me in the way Thy Statutes recommend:

And I from it will never stray, But keep it to the end. [verse 34] Grant me to understand thy Law, And I shall keep it still: Yea, my whole heart, possest with awe Thereof, shall it fulfill.

[verse 35] Assist me by thy grace, to do What thy Commands enjoyn: For in that path I joy to go, Whereto they me confine. [verse 36] Thy testimonies to affect, Do thou incline my heart: And let no worldly wealths respect From them my love divert.

[verse 37] From tempting objects turn my sight, Too apt on them to stay: And quicken me with more delight To travel in thy way. [verse 38] Thy word of promise stablish thou, Unto thy servant dear, Who hath himself by solemn vow Devoted to thy fear.

[verse 39] Turn from me the reproach and shame Which I so greatly dread: For(though bad men thy Judgments blame,) In goodness they exceed. [verse 40] Behold, with longing earnestness Thy Preceps I have sought:

Quicken me in thy righteousness, T' obey them as I ought.

Part VI.

[verse 41] As thou thy faithfull Word hast past Me from my foes to save: So, Lord, dispatch to me with haste The mercies which I crave. [verse 42] So shall I give an answer just Unto my scornfull foes, Who me reproach, because my trust I in thy word repose.

[verse 43] And give my mouth still cause to plead In thy true words defence: For on thy Judgments I have laid My hope, and confidence. [verse 44] So, what thy Law enjoyneth, I Will, in no case, omit: But, unto all eternity Observe, and practise it.

[verse 45] And whiles it doth me most consine, I'll count it liberty: For ev'ry precept, Lord, of thine Seek out with care do I. [verse 46] Thy testimonies too' I'll own, Ev'n where Kings present are: Nor will I, daunted with their frown, To speak of them forbear. [verse 47]

And sith on thy Commands my heart Its dearest love hath set: Their study shall to me impart Delights exceeding great. [verse 48] My hands likewise I will extend To each divine command: And, mov'd by love, my studies bend Thy Statutes t' understand.

Part VII.

[verse 49] Recall to mind the word by thee Unto thy servant pass'd: On which (thy grace enabling me) My hope is firmly plac'd. [verse 50] From it, in my affliction, I Most solid comfort have: For when I was about to die, Reviving strength it gave.

[verse 51] With insolence exceeding great The proud did me deride: But from thy Laws strict measures, yet, I have not turn'd aside. [verse 52] Thy Judgments, Lord, of ancient days To mind I did recall: From whence I did great comfort raise, To cheer my heart withall.

[verse 53] Great horrour, mixt with pity, seis'd Upon me, when I saw

How proudly wicked men despis'd, And quite forsook thy Law. [verse 54] Amidst the many griess, and wrongs, I, as a stranger, bare In this lifes pilgrimage; my songs Thy holy Statutes were.

[verse 55] To think (O Lord) upon thy Name, By night I broke my sleep; And thereby kept my Soul in frame, Thy holy Law to keep. [verse 56] These great advantages I made, (And more than I can speak;) Because such constant care I had, Thy precepts not to break.

Part VIII.

[verse 57] Thou hast thy self by promise made To be my portion, Lord: And, with full purpose, I have said, That I would keep thy word. [verse 58] With earnest servency, my heart In pray'r did seek thy face: According to thy word, impart To me thy saving grace.

[verse 59] Unto thy testimonies, I My wand'ring footsteps turn'd; When I my former ways did try, And for their errours mourn'd. [verse 60]

I did not long debating stand, But laid delays avide: And unto what thou did'st command, My heart with haste apply'd.

[verse 61] Whole troops of wicked men combin'd, To make my goods their prey: Yet still I kept thy Law in mind, That I might it obey. [verse 62] At midnight from my bed I'll rise, To render thanks to thee: For greatly I thy Judgments prise, Because they righteous be.

[verse 63] Each one that doth thy precepts mind, And liveth in thy fear; I own for my beloved friend, And my companion dear. [verse 64] Thy mercies, Lord, abundantly The earth throughout do fill: Thy Statutes then teach me, that I May from them know thy will.

Part IX.

[verse 65] Most favourably thou hast dealt With me thy servant, Lord: For I th' effects thereof have felt, According to thy word. [verse 66] Sound knowledg of all truth's divine Do thou unto me give: For I do all commands of thine With firm belies receive. [verse 67]

When from affliction I was freed, Out of thy ways I stept: But ever since, with greater heed, Thy holy word I kept. [verse 68] Exceeding good thou art, and dost All that is good bestow: Then teach thou me, how good, and just, Thy Statutes are, to know.

[verse 69] Foul things unto my charge to lay, The proud did lies invent: But I thy precepts to obey, My heart have wholly bent. [verse 70] Their stupid hearts in brawny fat Inclos'd, all sense have lost: But thy most holy Law is that Which me delighteth most.

[verse 71] That thou afflicted'st me for good, I clearly now discern: That, scourged by thy chast'ning rod; I might thy Statutes learn. [verse 72] The holy Law thy mouth enjoyn'd, I now do value more, Then summs of gold and silver coyn'd, When heap'd in greatest store.

Part X.

[verse 73] Thy workmanship, O Lord, I am, And fashion'd by thy hands:

Instruct me then, how I may frame My life by thy Commands. [verse 74] Who ever fear thee, will be glad To see my troubles end: Because upon thy word for aid My hopes did still depend.

[verse 75] O Lord, when thou dost Judgments send, I know, they righteous be: And thou dealt'st like a faithfull friend, When thou afflicted'st me [verse 76] Extend, I pray, thy tender love, To ease thy servants pain: And let thy faithfull word thee move To comfort me again.

[verse 77] O let thy tender mercies draw Near me, my life to save: For in the study of thy Law A great delight I have. [verse 78] Sham'd be the proud, without desert, Who me perversly use: But on thy Precepts I my heart Engaged have to muse.

[verse 79] My cause, let all that love thee, own, And unto me repair: With ev'ry one, to whom well known Thy testimonies are. [verse 80] Let me thy Statutes with a sound And honest heart affect:

So shall no crime in me be found, Nor shame on me reflect.

Part XI.

[verse 81] My fainting soul with grief doth droop, Untill thou do me save: Supported, onely, by the hope Which in thy word I have. [verse 82] Mines eyes, whiles they long look to see Thy word fulfill'd, decay: And oft, when wilt thou comfort me? My earnest wishes say.

[verse 83] For like a bottle parcht in smoke, Do wrinkled I appear: Yet do I not forget to look Into thy Statutes dear. [verse 84] How many days must I, expect The aid thy grace bestows? When wilt thou Judgment execute On my pursuing foes?

[verse 85] Whiles my insulting Enemies To take me, digged pits, They dealt with me far otherwise, Then thy just Law permits. [verse 86] Strengthen'd with thy fidelity, All thy Commandments be: They persecute me wrongfully; Help then, and rescue me. [verse 87]

Almost of all that e'r I had, On earth by them berest; (To help me in a case so sad,) I ne'r thy precepts left. [verse 88] In tender mercy me revive; And carefully I'll heed Those testimonies while I live, Which from thy mouth proceed.

Part XII.

[verse 89] In heaven, where thy Throne, O Lord, For ever standeth fast, With equal firmness thou thy word For ever setled hast. [verse 90] And thy unshaken faithfulness Abides from race to race: As earth unmov'd doth still possess Its first appointed place.

[verse 91] Thine ordinances plac'd them there, Where, at this day they stand: For all of them thy servants are, And under thy command. [verse 92] Unless thy Law alone had been My souls entire delight; I had in mine affliction, then, With sorrow perisht quite.

[verse 93] Thy precepts in my memory I'll evermore retain:

By which, when I was like to die, Thou quick'ned'st me again. [verse 94] Devoted unto thee am I; Thine own vow'd servant save: For I enquired constantly After thy precepts have.

[verse 95] My wicked foes my life to spill, Have waited me to take: But I thy testimonies will My daily study make. [verse 96] The bounds of all that's excellent In creatures, I have spy'd: But thy commands, in their extent, Do spread exceeding wide.

Part XIII.

[verse 97] O what exceeding love I pay Unto thy Law most dear? My meditations all the day On it imployed are. [verse 98] By thy commands which in my breast For ever fixt remain, Of greater wisedom I'm possest, Then e'r my foes could gain.

[verse 99] Thy study'd testimonies made Me understand much more, Then all the teachers which I had, E'r understood before. [verse 100]

Men, far my elders, I exceed By far, in knowledg deep: Because I do thy precepts heed, And diligently keep.

[verse 101] That I might keep thy word in mind, Ne'r from its rules to stray; My feet I thereunto confin'd, And shun'd each evil way. [verse 102] Thy Judgments I did not desert, Nor in my duty fail'd: The Lessons which thou on my heart Had'st printed, so prevail'd.

[verse 103] How sweetly taste, thy words of truth To my enlight'ned mind? A less sweet relish doth my mouth In purest honey find. [verse 104] An understanding pure, and clear, I through thy precepts get: Wherefore, the hatred which I bear To all false ways, is great.

Part XIV.

[verse 105] Thy word, to guide my feet aright, A Candle is to me: And yields a clear and certain light, Whereby my path I see. [verse 106] By solemn oath my self I ty'd, And will perform it too:

That what thy righteous Judgments bid, I will observe, and do.

[verse 107] I long have undergone, O Lord, Afflictions great, and sore: According as thy gracious word Doth bind thee, me restore. [verse 108] Those off'rings kindly, Lord, receive, (I humbly thee beseech,) Which with my vowing mouth I give; And me thy Judgments teach.

[verse 109] My soul is ever in my hand, Expos'd to dangers great: No dangers yet, wherein I stand, Make me thy Law forget, [verse 110] The wicked an entrapping'gin To take my feet, have laid: Yet from no precept, Lord, of thine To shun it, have I stray'd.

[verse 111] Thy testimonies do I take, And with unalter'd choice, Mine heritage for ever make: For they my heart rejoyce. [verse 112] With stedfast purpose of my will, My heart I wholly bend, To keep thy righteous Judgments, till My days in death shall end.

Part XV.

[verse 113] To thoughts that sinfull are, and vain Great hatred do I bear: But for thy Law I do retain A Love exceeding dear. [verse 114] To me an hiding-place thou art, And a protecting shield: And lest my hopes from thee should start) Thy word hath them upheld.

[verse 115] Depart from me, who e'r ye are That work iniquity: For I my God's commands declare That I'll keep faithfully. [verse 116] According to thy word to me, Make thou thy grace my prop: That I may live, and never be Ashamed of my hope.

[verse 117] Whiles thy supporting grace me stays, Secure shall I remain: And to thy Statutes all my days Firm love I will retain. [verse 118] All those, who from thy Statutes stray'd, Thou troddest to the ground: So that the treacherous plots they laid, False to themselves were found.

[verse 119] All wicked men, like dross from gold, From th' earth thou dost remove:

Whence I, their ends, when I behold, Thy testimonies love. [verse 120] My very flesh with trembling seis'd, For fear of thee, doth quake: Thy Judgments, when thou art displeas'd My courage so doth shake.

Part XVI.

[verse 121] My dealings towards other men, Were ever just and right: O do not me abandon, then, To be opprest by might. [verse 122] Whiles with thy servant men contest, Do thou for him engage: And let me never be opprest By their insulting rage.

[verse 123] Mine eyes with long expecting fail, Whiles thy salvation stays: So many fears my faith assail, Because thy word delays! [verse 124] According to thy mercy deal With him that serveth thee: And, of thy special grace, reveal Thy Statutes unto me.

[verse 125] Sith I thy servant am, I say, Do thou on me bestow Such understanding, that I may Thy testimonies know. [verse 126]

'Tis time for thee to shew thy might, And therewith, Lord, to aw Bold sinners who, endeavour quite T' annul thy sacred Law.

[verse 127] Thy dear commands I love therefore, So, that to me they are Of value, more, then gold, yea more Then finest gold can bear. [verse 128] Hence, all thy Precepts I esteem, In ev'ry thing they say, Most right; and do, for love of them, Hate ev'ry erring way.

Part XVII.

[verse 129] Thy holy testimonies are Fill'd full with wonders deep: My soul therefore, with greatest care, Doth them resolve to keep. [verse 130] The entrance to thy word doth give Dark souls a saving light: The simple thence the grace receive, To know their duty right.

[verse 131] My craving mouth I open'd wide, And panted earnestly: Such longing, to be satisfy'd With thy commands, had I. [verse 132] With smiling countenance me view; No other grace I claim,

Then thou, O Lord, art wont to shew To those that love thy Name.

[verse 133] My order'd steps do thou within Thy words just rules restrain: And suffer no habitual sin Within my heart to reign. [verse 134] From the unjust oppressing hand Of men, set thou me free: So, what thy Precepts do command, Shall be observ'd by me.

[verse 135] Cause thou thy pleased face to shine Upon thy servant dear: And what thy Statutes do enjoyn, Make plain to me, and clear. [verse 136] Down my drencht cheeks, from weeping eyes, Rivers of tears do glide; When I behold, how men despise To make thy Law their guide.

Part XVIII.

[verse 137] In thee, (I, to thy praise confess,) All righteousness doth dwell: And thine, (O Lord) for uprightness, All Judgments do excell. [verse 138] Thy testimonies t' us enjoyn'd, In righteousness abound: And are to all that are inclin'd To keep them, faithfull found. [verse 139]

I'm even wasted with the heat Of zeal, stirr'd up by grief, To see my foes thy words forget, That should direct their life. [verse 140] Thy word, like metall try'd in fire, So very pure doth prove: That therefore with a strong desire, Thy servant doth it love.

[verse 141] Small in this world, and mean am I, And men with scorn me treat: Yet am I not induc'd thereby, Thy precepts to forget. [verse 142] An everlasting righteousness Doth in thy nature dwell: And that'tis truth it self, no less Doth make thy Law excell.

[verse 143] Such troubles as me sorely grieve. Upon my soul have seis'd: But thy commands such pleasures give, By which all griefs are eas'd. [verse 144] A righteousness that ne'r decays, Thy testimonies have: Give me to understand thy ways, And I shall scape the grave.

Part XIX.

[verse 145] With all my heart I cry'd aloud, Lord, hearken to my cry:

And from due sense of gratitude, Thy Statutes keep will I. [verse 146] O save thou me, I crying said, Out of my dangers deep: Then will I, rescu'd by thy aid, Thy testimonies keep.

[verse 147] With early pray'rs, I did prevent The dawning of the day: Which, whiles I did to thee present, Thy word my hopes did stay. [verse 148] To me, the nights last watch seem'd late, Sleep, earlier left mine eyes: I, on thy word to meditate Before 'twas set, did rise.

[verse 149] O let thy tender mercy move Thee, Lord, to hear my voice: Judg thou my cause, and in thy love, My drooping soul rejoyce. [verse 150] Near me, upon a bad design, My persecutour draw: But in so doing, they decline The farther from thy Law.

[verse 151] And thou too, Lord, art near at hand, To save, whom they wou'd kill: And, doing what thou dost command, Thy truth shall keep me still. [verse 152] Thy testimonies known to me Have been for time long past:

And founded, as they are, by thee, I know, they still shall last.

Part XX.

[verse 153] On my affliction think, and thence At liberty me set: For I, through wilfull negligence, Thy Laws do not forget. [verse 154] Appear, my righteous cause to plead, That I discharg'd may be: And, as thy word hath promised, In mercy quicken me.

[verse 155] Salvation is removed far From all the wicked crew, Because they so neglectfull are Thy Statutes to pursue. [verse 156] Great are thy tender mercies, Lord, And just thy Judgments be: Inclined by them both, afford Thy quick'ning grace to me.

[verse 157] My persecutors many are, And many foes I have: Yet, do I not, (induc'd by fear) Thy testimonies wave. [verse 158] When the transgressours I did view, Who did thy word forsake; Opprest with grief, and pity too, My tender heart did ake. [verse 159]

Mind, Lord, with what a tender love Thy precepts I embrace: And let thy righteousness thee move, To give me quick'ning grace. [verse 160] Thy word, through all time past, and gone, From the beginning's sure: And thy just Judgments ev'ry one, For ever shall endure.

Part XXI.

[verse 161] Princes my Persecutors were Who never gave them cause: But yet thy words most holy fear My heart from sinning aws. [verse 162] Thy word creates a joyfulness In me, as large each way, As doth the heart of him possess, Who findeth ample prey.

[verse 163] I hate, and perfectly detest All lies of ev'ry kind: But for thy Law, within my breast, A perfect love I find. [verse 164] No less then seven times a day, Thy praises I declare: This duty I thy Judgments pay, For very just they are.

[verse 165] Great is the peace, which all of those Who love thy Law attends:

Their hearts enjoy such sweet repose, That nothing them offends. [verse 166] Look'd with firm hope, O Lord, have I For thy salvations aid: And thy Commandments faithfully Have, whiles I hop'd, obey'd.

[verse 167] I to thy testimonies bear A love that doth exceed: Whence in my soul, an earnest care To keep them all, is bred. [verse 168] Thy holy testimonies, and Thy precepts I obey'd: For all my ways, I understand, Before thy face are laid.

Part XXII.

[verse 169] O let the cry I make to thee, Come near before thee, Lord: Sound understanding give thou me, According to thy word. [verse 170] And let my supplication have To thee a free access: According to thy word, me save, Out of my great distress.

[verse 171] Thy Statutes when thou hast me taught, (So just they are, and good:) My lips, with thy due praises fraught, Shall utter them aloud. [verse 172]

Thy holy word, my tongue shall be Most ready to confess: For all commands which come from thee, Are perfect righteousness.

[verse 173] Do thou extend thy mighty hand, From dangers me to save: For what thy precepts do command, I freely chosen have. [verse 174] Thy saving aid, Lord, I desir'd With longing appetite: And what from me thy Law requir'd, I did with great delight.

[verse 175] My soul thy praise shall ever spread, Preserve it then alive: And let thy Judgments in my need, To me assistance give. [verse 176] Thy servant seek, when, like a sheep, He strays with wand'ring feet: For thy commands, ev'n then, to keep, I do not quite forget.