Religion
Psalm 103
From A Paraphrase upon the Divine Poems (1638)
My Soule, and all my Faculties
Jehovah praise; sing till the Skies
Re-eccho his ascending Fame:
My Soule, O celebrate his Name!
Nor ever let the memory
Of his surpassing Favours die.
He gently pardons our misdeeds,
And cures the Wound which inward bleeds.
Hath from the Chains of Death unbound;
With Clemency and Mercy crown'd.
With Food our Hunger he subdues:
And Eagle-like our Youth renues.
His Justice he extends to all;
Oppressors by his Vengeance fall.
His sacred Paths to Moses shown;
His Miracles to Israel known:
From Him the Springs of Mercy flow;
Swift to forgive, to anger slow.
For he will not for ever chide;
Nor constant to his Wrath abide:
But mildly from his Rage relents,
And shortens our due Punishments.
For as the Heavens in amplitude
Exceed the Centre they include:
So ample is his Clemencie
To all who on his Grace relie.
As farre as the bright Orient
Is distant from the Suns Descent;
So farre he sets from his Aspect
Their Cuilt, who him with feare affect.
And as a Father to his Child,
So soft, so quickly reconcil'd.
He knowes the Fabrick of us all;
That dust is our Originall.
Man flourisheth like Grasse, a Flower
That blowes and withers in an houre:
By scorching heat, by blasting Wind
Deflowr'd, and leaves no print behind.
But his firme Mercy shall imbrace
His Saints for ever, and their Race:
Those who his equall Lawes fulfill,
Remember, and performe his Will.
In Heaven the great Jehovah reigns,
And governs all that Earth contains:
You Angels, who in strength exceed,
Who him obey with winged speed;
You ordred Hosts of radiant Stars;
O you his flaming Ministers;
All, whom his Wisdome did create;
Through his large Empire celebrate
His glorious Name with sweet accord:
Joyne thou, my Soule, to praise the Lord.
Cite this poem
MLA
Sandys, George. “Psalm 103.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/sandys/104/.
Chicago
Sandys, George. “Psalm 103.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/sandys/104/.
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