Religion

Psalm 25

by John White 1575–1648

From Davids Psalms in Metre (1655)

Religion

O Lord, I do lift up
my soul and heart to thee,
I trust in thee, O Lord my God,
let no shame come to mee.
Let not my foes have cause
to triumph over mee,
Let none of them be made asham'd
that alwaies wait on thee.

Let them be made asham'd
that trespasse without cause.
Shew me thy holy ways, O Lord,
teach me thy paths and laws.
Lead me forth in thy truth,
and teach me I thee pray,
Of my salvation thou art God,
on thee I wait alway.

Thy tender mercies, Lord,
think on, and keep in minde,
Thy loving kindnesses of old,
that I may daily finde.
My sins and faults of youth
forget, and think on mee,
According to thy mercy, Lord,
and for thy goodnesse free.

God is exceeding good,
upright and faithful too,
Therefore will he the sinners teach
the way that they should goe.
Those that are meek in heart,
in judgement he will guide,
He will instruct in all his ways
the meek and void of pride.

The ways of God are truth,
and mercy, to preserve
All those that keep his Covenant
and precepts do observe.
Now for thy holy name,
O Lord, I thee intreat,
To grant me pardon for my sin
which is exceeding great.

The Second part.

What man is he that fears
the Lord? him in the way
That he should choose to walk therein
he will teach day by day.
His soul in goodnesse shall
continue quietly,
The earth shall be an heritage
to his posterity.

All those that fear the Lord
his secret blessing know,
His covenant to them he doth
by tri'd experience show.
Mine eyes and heart unto
the Lord advanced are,
For he shall free my feet out of
the danger of the snare.

Turn thee to me, O Lord,
and mercy on me show,
I am left comfortlesse alone,
and brought exceeding low.
The troubles of mine heart
greatly enlarged bee,
Out of those deep distresses, Lord,
bring me, and set me free.

Look upon my distresse,
take notice of my pain,
Forgive and pardon all my sins,
and make me whole again.
O Lord, behold my foes,
how they do still increase,
Pursuing me with deadly hate
that fain would live in peace.

O Lord, preserve my soul,
do thou deliver me,
And let me not be put to shame,
because I trust in thee.
Let mine uprightnesse, Lord,
and sound integritie,
In safety me preserve and deep,
for I wait still on thee.

Redeem thine Israel,
O Lord, thy people all,
From all their trouble and distresse,
which daily on them befall.

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A metrical version of Psalm 25.

MLA

White, John. “Psalm 25.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/white_john/23/.

Chicago

White, John. “Psalm 25.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/white_john/23/.

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