Religion

Psalm 79

by George Wither 1588–1667

Translated by George Wither (1632) · From The Psalmes of David Translated into Lyrick-Verse (1632)

Religion

VPon thine heritage, oh God!
The Gentiles, Ryots de commit:
Within thy Temple, they have trod,
And, wasted & prophaned it,
The bodies of thy saints, bestrowe
The feilds about Ierusalem;
Their blood, ev'n in the streets doth flowe,
And, birds & beasts do feed onthem.

Their bones without a grave remaine,
And, all our neighbours vs defame:
Oh Lord, how long shal wee sustaine,
Thy burning rage, thy iealous flame!
Let thy incensed wrath be pour'd.
On heathen lands, that knowe not thee;
For, they thy Iacob have devour'd,
And, quite consum'd his dwellings be.

Remember not our follies past,
(Oh God! from whome our help doth flowe)
But thy sweet grace, Lord, let vs tast;
For, wee are brought exceeding lowe.
Healp (for thy Mercy's cause) wee pray,
For thy Name-sake, forgive our sinn;
Lest, els, of thee the heathen say,
Where is their God, they trusted in?

But, let it bee (before our eyes)
Of all the Gentiles vnderstood,
By hearing of the pris'ners cries,
And, by revenging of our bloud.
Them, save likewise (ev'n through thy might)
That vnto death appointed be;
And seaven fold, oh God! requite
Our neighbours scornful spights to thee.

So, wee thy pasture-sheep, oh Lord,
Will give thee praise, & thancks therfore,
Yea we thy praises will record,
From age to age, for ever more.

MLA

Wither, George. “Psalm 79.” Translated by George Wither. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/wither/106/.

Chicago

Wither, George. “Psalm 79.” Translated by George Wither. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/wither/106/.

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