English text
Lord, how are my foes increas'd,
Who vex me more and more!
They break my heart when as they say,
God can him not restore.
But thou, O Lord, art my defence,
When I am hard bestead;
My worship and my honour both,
And thou hold'st up my head.
Then with my voice unto the Lord
I did both call and cry;
And he out of his holy hill
Did hear me instantly.
I laid me down, and quietly
I slept, and rose again;
For why? I know assuredly,
The Lord did me sustain.
If thousands up against me rise,
I will not be afraid;
For thou art still my Lord and God,
My Saviour and my aid.
Rise up therefore, save me, my God,
To thee I make my pray'r;
For thou hast broke the cheeks and teeth
Of all that wicked are.
Salvation only doth belong
To thee, O Lord, above;
Who on thy people dost bestow
Thy blessing and thy love.
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Metrical 'New Version' (Tate/Brady)
English text
1 How num'rous, Lord, of late are grown
The troublers of my peace;
And, as their numbers hourly rise,
So does their rage increase.
2 Insulting they my soul upbraid,
And him whom I adore;
'The God in whom he trusts', say they,
'Shall rescue him no more'.
3 But thou, O Lord, art my defence;
On thee my hopes rely;
Thou art my glory, and shalt yet
Lift up my head on high.
4 Since whensoe'er in like distress
To God I made my pray'r,
He heard me from his holy hill,
Why should I now despair?
5 Guarded by him, I laid me down,
My sweet repose to take;
For I through him securely sleep,
Through him in safety wake.
6 No force nor fury of my foes
My courage shall confound,
Were they as many hosts as men
That have beset me round.
7 Arise and save me, O my God,
Who oft hast owned my cause,
And scattered oft these foes to me,
And to thy righteous laws.
8 Salvation to the Lord belongs,
He only can defend;
His blessing he extends to all
That on his pow'r depend.
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Metrical Paraphrase by Isaac Watts
English text
PART 1. (C. M.)
My God, how many are my fears!
How fast my foes increase!
Conspiring my eternal death,
They break my present peace.
The lying tempter would persuade
There's no relief in heav'n;
And all my swelling sins appear
Too big to be forgiv'n.
But thou, my glory and my strength,
Shalt on the tempter tread,
Shalt silence all my threatening guilt,
And raise my drooping head.
I cried, and from his holy hill
He bowed a listening ear;
I called my Father, and my God,
And he subdued my fear.
He shed soft slumbers on mine eyes,
In spite of all my foes;
I woke, and wondered at the grace
That guarded my repose.
What though the hosts of death and hell
All armed against me stood,
Terrors no more shall shake my soul;
My refuge is my God.
Arise, O Lord, fulfill thy grace,
While I thy glory sing;
My God has broke the serpent's teeth,
And death has lost his sting.
Salvation to the Lord belongs;
His arm alone can save:
Blessings attend thy people here,
And reach beyond the grave.
PART 2. (L. M.)
O Lord, how many are my foes,
In this weak state of flesh and blood!
My peace they daily discompose,
But my defense and hope is God.
Tired with the burdens of the day,
To thee I raised an evening cry:
Thou heard'st when I began to pray,
And thine almighty help was nigh.
Supported by thine heav'nly aid,
I laid me down, and slept secure:
Not death should make my heart afraid,
Though I should wake and rise no more.
But God sustained me all the night:
Salvation doth to God belong;
He raised my head to see the light,
And make his praise my morning song.
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