O blessed ever be the Lord

Verse 1

O blessèd ever be the Lord, who is my strength and might, Who doth instruct my hands to war, my fingers teach to fight.

Verse 2

My goodness, fortress, my high tow'r, deliverer, and shield, In whom I trust: who under me my people makes to yield.

Verse 3

Lord, what is man, that thou of him dost so much knowledge take? Or son of man, that thou of him so great account dost make?

Verse 4

Man is like vanity; his days, as shadows, pass away.

Verse 5

Lord, bow thy heav'ns, come down, touch thou the hills, and smoke shall they.

Verse 6

Cast forth thy lightning, scatter them; thine arrows shoot, them rout.

Verse 7

Thine hand send from above, me save; from great depths draw me out; And from the hand of children strange,

Verse 8

Whose mouth speaks vanity; And their right hand is a right hand that works deceitfully.

Verse 9

A new song I to thee will sing, Lord, on a psaltery; I on a ten-stringed instrument will praises sing to thee.

Verse 10

Ev'n he it is that unto kings salvätion doth send; Who his own servant David doth from hurtful sword defend.

Verse 11

O free me from strange children's hand, whose mouth speaks vanity; And their right hand a right hand is that works deceitfully.

Verse 12

That, as the plants, our sons may be in youth grown up that are; Our daughters like to corner-stones, carved like a palace fair.

Verse 13

That to afford all kind of store our garners may be filled; That our sheep thousands, in our streets ten thousands they may yield.

Verse 14

That strong our oxen be for work, that no in-breaking be, Nor going out; and that our streets may from complaints be free.

Verse 15

Those people blessèd are who be in such a case as this; Yea, blessèd all those people are, whose God JEHOVAH is.