Psalm 69

(L.M.D.)

To the cheef Musitian, Shosannim, a Psalme of David. It personates Christ taking upon him our sinns & infirmities; humbling him self before his Father; declaring the Condition of his Adversaries; shewing the bitternes of his passion; signifieng the Judgments prepared for Sinners; & prayeng for his Elect, &c. Christ’s members may use it to those purposes.

1. Healp, Lord, for Flouds enclose my Soul;
In groundles depths I am bemir’d;
Above my head, great waters rowle:
My parchèd throate, with cries is tir’de;
Mine eyes are dim’d in seeking thee.
More than my haires, my Foes are growne;
My spoilers are too strong for me,
And take as theirs, what is mine owne.

2. Thou knowest how I am to blame;
But for my sake, let none of those
(Lord, God of Isr’el) suffer blame,
Who do in thee their trust repose.
For I sustaine reprochfull scorne,
And am disgracèd for thy sake.
My brethren of my mother borne,
Of me, likewise, a stranger make.

3. Zeal to thy house hath worne me out;
Thy scorners, my reprochers be;
My Fastings & my teares they flout,
And when I mourne, they laugh at me.
Of me, the Rulers evill spake;
The Drunckerds made of me their songs:
But Lord, my moane I timelie make;
In Mercie, mark therefore my wrongs.

4. Me, by thy Truth’s protection, keep;
That miry-depths, nor spightfull-foes,
Devouring-Flouds, nor whirl-pooles deep,
Nor Dungeon’s Mouth, my soul enclose.
But Lord, of thy abounding grace,
(For thy Love-sake) returne & hear;
To me, thy servant shew thy face,
And in my need, incline thine ear.

5. Drawe nigh, & save & sett thou free,
My soul from those who bear me spight;
For all my wrongs are knowne to thee,
And all my Foes are in thy sight.
Rebukes & scornes, my hart nigh broke;
With greefs opprest, I made my mone,
But where I did for pittie looke,
They would (alas) afford me none.

6. They, for my meat, did gall prepare;
Sharp Vineger to quench my thirst.
Their Bourd, therfore, shall them ensnare,
And Blessings be to them accurst.
Their eye shall be depriv’d of sight;
A cure-les greef, their back shall shake;
God’s heavie wrath shall on them ’light,
His Vengance, them shall overtake.

7. None shall in their abiding-place,
Or in their Tent be dwelling found:
For whome thou smot’st, those they did chase,
And greevèd him, whome thou didst wound.
More sinnfull still, they shall become,
And in God’s Justice, have no share,
Nor in that book of life have roome,
Wherein the Just enrowlèd are.

8. But I that pore & scornèd am,
Shall by thyne ayde, O Lord, be raisd;
For which, I’le magnify thy Name,
And in my songs, thou shalt be praisd.
And that, O Lord, more pleases thee
Than horn’d & hoofèd Oxe to give;
Which when the Meek (thee seeking) see,
It shall with joye, their hart revive.

9. God’s praise; ye heav’ns & earth declare
Him praise, thou sea & all in thee:
For to the pore, he lends his ear,
And he doth sett the pris’ner free.
He, Syon saves in time of need,
And Judah’s Townes he will erect,
To be for those & for their seed,
Who serving him, his Name affect.

O Lambe of God, which takest away the sinns of the world, have mercie upon us! Thou that hast taken on thee our sinns, felt our infirmities, & suffred all which we deserved, have mercie upon us. Thou, who for our salvation, didest bear the unkindnesses of kindred & familiers, the reproches of Neighbours, the scornes & oppressions of Strangers, the reproofs of Magistrates, & the contempt of the basest people, have mercy upon us. Then, who for our sakes, hast endured insufferable torments of the bodie, the unspeakable agonies of the soul, tasted the gall & vineger of everie bitter passion, have mercie upon us. Deliver us from them who seek to crucifie thee againe in thy members. Raise us by thy Resurrection, whome thou hast redeemed by thy passion; Glorifie us by thy Ascention, in life eternall, whome thou hast secured from Damnation by thy Death & Buriall; And for that which thou hast done & prepared for thine Elect; let heaven & earth praise thee, world without end. Amen.

(L.M.D.) Long Meter Double or 88.88.D

(88.88.88.88; rhyme scheme: ababcdcd)

Tunes (First Lines): Creation: The spacious firmament on high; Schmücke dich: Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness.