Religion

Psalm XXX

by Sir John Davies 1569–1626

From Complete Poems, ed. Grosart (1876)

Religion

Highly the Lord I praise Who setts mee high
Aboue my proud insultinge enimie;
Sicke to the death, I cried to GOD for ease,
And Hee hath cur'd my dangerous disease;
Hee from the graue hath lifted up my head
And hath reduc't mee from among the dead.
Yee SAINTS of His in songs His praise expresse,
With thankes make mention of His holines;
For momentarie His displeasure is,
When in His fauour there is life and blisse;
Sad sorrow may continue for a night,
But joy returneth with the morninge light.
When my estate did prosper, then said I
I shall not fall, my seat is fixt on high.
But when Thou Lord, didst turne Thy face aside,
Then was I trubled, and to Thee I cride;
To Thee began I then againe to pray,
And in my humble prayer thus did say:
What profit can there by my death arise,
When buried in the graue my body lies?
Shall dust and ashes celebrate Thy name?
Or shall the silent TOOMBE Thy truth proclaime?
Lord, heare my prayer, and then Thy mercie show
In aidinge mee against my cruell foe!
Loe now to dancinge, Thou hast turn'd my sadnes,
Out of my sackloth girded mee with gladnes.
For this shall euerie good man singe Thy praise,
And I shall thanke and blesse Thee all my dayes.

MLA

Davies, John. “Psalm XXX.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/davies/219/.

Chicago

Davies, John. “Psalm XXX.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/davies/219/.

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