Psa. 57

(98.98.88)

To the cheef Musitian, an Altaschith, a Psalm of David, when he fledd from Saul in the Cave. It mystically expressed the Jewes persecutinge Christ, even unto his Grave; we, that are his members & partake in his suffrings, may sing it to declare our injuries & to pray & praise God for deliverances, &c.

1. Lord, grant (O grant) me thy compassion;
For I, in thee my trust have plac’d;
Display thy wings for my Salvation,
Untill my greefs are over-pass’d.
To thee, I sue (O God, most high)
To thee that canst all want supplie.

2. From their despights who seek to rend me,
Let help, O Lord, from heav’n be daign’d,
And let thy Truth & Love defend me;
For I with Lions am detain’d:
With men inflam’d, whose biting words
Are shafts & spears & naked swords.

3. Let over heav’n, God’s praise be rearèd,
And through the world, his glorie show’d.
For they who netts for me preparèd,
(They who my soul to ground had bow’d)
Ev’n they with in those trapps are caught,
Which for my fall, their hands had wrought. (Selah.)

4. O God, my hart now ready maketh;
My hart for thy praise preparing:
My Tongue, my Harpe, my Lute awaketh.
I my selfe betimes uprearing,
Will speake & sing in praise of thee
Where greatest throngs of people be.

5. For Lord, thy Mercies forth are stretchèd
As farr as the Sphears extended;
Thy Truth unto the Clouds hath reachèd,
And thy self art high ascended.
Let still thy Fame & praise, O God,
Through heav’n & earth be spread abrode.

O Lord, to whome Mercy belongeth, have mercy upon us; & let the Wings of thy protection be gratiously spread over us untill the Stormes of this life be overpast: For so great & so manyfold are those dangers & those Miseries, wherewith we are alwaies enclosed by spirituall & temporal foes; that they have brought our bodies to the Grave & our soules near unto Hell. O let thy Truth & Love defend us from our Lion-like persecuters! that our Harts (being timely cheared) our Thoughts, Words, & Actions, may harmoniously agree in manifesting thy praises. And seeing thy holy Spirit hath plainely declared the Universality of thy proffered Grace, let not us presume to sett Limmits there unto; but publish thy glorie as universaly as thou hast extended thy Mercies, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Meter: 98.98.88

Tune (First Line): Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten: If thou but trust in God to guide.