Religion

Psalm 7

by George Wither 1588–1667

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

Religion

LOrd God, on thee I do depend,
Me, from the spoiler save:
Lest Lion-like my soul he rend
When I no helper have.
For, if oh Lord my God, in this,
My hands found guiltie be;
If I rewarded him amisse
That was at peace with me.

Nay, I to him did mercy shewe
Who sought my causeles blame;
Els, let my foe my soul persue
And ouertake the same.
Yea, let hlm tread (when down I fall)
My life into the clay;
And, in a dust-heap, there-withall,
Mine honor let him lay.

Oh Lord! thy selfe, in wrath advance,
For, wroth my spoilers be:
According to thine ordinance.
Arise, & judge thou me
That multitudes to thee may come,
(For their sakes) great appear:
Yea judge them Lord, & giue me doome
As just, ag I am clear.

Confounde the sinners wickednes;
But, still, the just maintaine:
For, thou (oh God of righteousnes)
Canst serch both Hart & Reine.
God is my sheild, & he protects
The Godly from decay.
His doomes are just, & he corrects
The wicked ev'ry day,

Except they turne, his blade he whetts,
A bowe, still bent, he hath:
He, shafts for persecutors getts,
And instruments of death.
For, lo; with mischeeues being bigg,
They first conceive a sinn;
Next, bring forth lies; then pitt-falls digg,
Where, they themselues fal in.

Thus, on their heads, their mischeeus all
Do justly tumble downe;
And wicked mens devises fall
On their devizers crowne.
For which, the justice of the Lord,
I'le strive to glorify;
And, will, in songs of praise, record
The name of God, most high.

MLA

Wither, George. “Psalm 7.” Translated by George Wither. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/wither/34/.

Chicago

Wither, George. “Psalm 7.” Translated by George Wither. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/wither/34/.

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