Religion

Psalm 36

by William Barton 1598?–1678

From The Book of Psalms in Metre (1644)

Religion

LEwd mens transgressions great,
Unto my heart descries,
And makes it clear,
That there's no fear
Of God before his eyes.
He to his own conceit
Grosse flatteries doth propound:
Untill the sin
He liveth in
An hatefull thing be found.
The words his mouth hath said
Are wickednesse and theft
Good things to do
And wisdom too
Hee hath for ever left.
He mischiefe on his bed
Deviseth to fulfill:
He doth delight
In ways not right,
And he abhors no ill.
Thy mercy heaven (at least)
Thy truth the clouds doth touch:
As mountains steep,
Or swallowing deep,
Thy truth and judgement's such.
Thou, Lord, sav'st man and beast,
O God, how exc'llent things
Thy love, thy grace
Make mortals place
Their trust in thy spread wings.
Full feasted they shall be
With thy sweet houses fat:
Thy river which
Yeeld pleasures rich,
They all shall drink of that.
The spring of life's with thee:
We shall see light in thine.
Never remove
From them thy love
That know thy name divine.
Thy love and clemency
Let th'upright hearted prove:
No foot of pride
Let make me slide,
Nor wiekcd hand remove.
Works of iniquity,
Destruction shall surprise:
Lo there they fall,
And never shall
Be able more to rise.

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A metrical version of Psalm 36.

MLA

Barton, William. “Psalm 36.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/barton_w/35/.

Chicago

Barton, William. “Psalm 36.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/barton_w/35/.

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