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 fell And fierce ire trouble them; but I, saith he, Anointed have my King (though ye rebel) On Sion my holy hill. A firm decree

I will declare; the Lord to me hath said, 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

The Heathen; and as thy conquest to be sway'd, Earth's utmost bounds: them shalt thou bring full low

With iron sceptre bruis'd, and them disperse
Like to a potter's 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 lest 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.

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 cried

Unto Jehovah, he full soon replied,
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 encamping round about,
They pitch against me their pavilions.
Rise, Lord; save me, my God; for thou

Hast smote, ere now,

On the cheek-bone, all my foes;

Of men abhorr'd

Hast broke the teeth. This help was from the Lord;

Thy blessing on thy people flows.

PSALMIV.

[August 10, 1653.]

ANSWER me when I call,
God of my rightousness;
In straits, and in distress,
Thou didst me disenthral

And set at large; now spare,

Now pity me, and hear my earnest prayer.

Great ones, how long will ye

My glory have in scorn?

How long be thus forborn

Still to love vanity?

To love, to seek, to prize

Things false and vain, and nothing else but lies? Yet know the Lord hath chose,

S

Chose to himself apart,

The good and meek of heart;
(For whom to choose he knows,)
Jehovah from on high

Will hear my voice, what time to him I cry.
Be awed, and do not sin ;
Speak to your hearts alone

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 show us good?

Talking like this world's brood:

But, Lord, thus let me pray;

On us lift up the light,

Lift up the favour of thy count'nance bright.

Into my heart more joy

And gladness thou hast put

Than 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'er I lie,

As in a rocky cell

Thou, Lord alone, in safety mak'st me dwell.

PSALM V.

[August 12, 1653]

JEHOVAH! to my words give ear,

My meditation weigh;

The voice of my complaining hear,

My King and God; for unto thee I pray

Jehovah! thou my early voice
Shalt in the morning hear;
I' th' morning I to thee with choice

Will rank my prayers, and watch till thou appear.
For thou art not a God that takes

In wickedness delight;
Evil with thee no biding makes;

Fools or mad-men stand not within thy sight.
All workers of iniquity

Thou hat'st: and them unbless'd
Thou wilt destroy that speak a lie;
The bloody 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 tow❜rd thy holy temple worship low.
Lord! lead me in thy righteousness,

Lead me, because of those
That do observe if I transgress;

Set thy ways right before, where my step goes.
For, in his faltering 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;
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.

PSALM VI

[August 13, 1653.j

LORD, in thine anger do not reprehend me,
Nor in thy hot displeasure me correct;

Pity me, Lord, for I am much deject,

And very weak and faint; heal and amend me ;
For all my bones, that e'en 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?
Wearied I am with sighing out my days;
Nightly my couch I make a kind of sea;
My bed I water with my tears; mine eye
Through grief consumes, is waxen old and dark
I' th' midst of all mine enemies that mark.
Depart all ye that work iniquity,

Depart from me; for the voice of my weeping
The Lord hath heard; the Lord hath heard my

prayer,

My supplication with acceptance fair

The Lord will own, and have me in his keeping.
Mine enemies shall all be blank, and dash'd

With much confusion; then, grown red with shame, They shall return in haste the way they came, And in a moment shall be quite abash'd.