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The Psalms of David (Psalms 44–150) · c. 1586–1599 (first printed 1823)

Psalm 119: Samech

by Mary Sidney Herbert, Countess of Pembroke 1561–1621


People that inconstant be
Constant hatred have from me:
But thy doctrine changlesse ever
Holds my love that changeth never.
For thou the closett where I hide
The shield whereby I safe abide:
My confidence expects thy promise just.
Hence, away, you cursed crue,
Gett you gon, that rid from you,
I at better ease and leisure
Maie performe my Gods good pleasure:
O Lord, as thou thy word didst give,
Sustaine me soe that I may live,
Nor make me blush, as frustrate of my trust.

Be my piller, be my stay,
Safe then I shall swerve no way:
All my witt and understanding
Shall then work on thy commanding,
For under foote thou treadst them all,
Who swerving from thy preceptes fall:
And vainly in their guile and treason trust.
Yea the wicked sort by thee
All as drosse abjected be:
Therefore what thy truth approveth,
That my love entirely loveth.
And such regard of thee I make,
For feare of Thee my flesh doth quake,
And of thy lawes, thy lawes severely just.

MLA

Herbert, Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke. The Psalms of David (Psalms 44–150), Psalm 119: Samech. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/work/pembroke-psalms/89/.

Chicago

Herbert, Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke. The Psalms of David (Psalms 44–150), Psalm 119: Samech. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/work/pembroke-psalms/89/.

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