Thy praise alone, O Lord, doth reign

Verse 1

Thy praise alone, O Lord, doth reign in Sion, thine own hill, Their vows to thee they do maintain, and promises fulfill:

Verse 2

For that thou dost their prayers still hear, and dost thereto agree, The people all both far and near with trust shall come to thee.

Verse 3

Our wicked life so far exceeds, that we shall fall therein; But, Lord, forgive our great misdeeds, and purge us from our sin.

Verse 4

The man is blest whom thou dost choose within thy courts to dwell, Thy house and temple he shall use with pleasures that excel.

Verse 5

Of thy great justice hear, O God, our health of thee doth rise, The hope of all the earth abroad, and the sea-coasts likewise.

Verse 6

With strength thou art beset about and compass'd with thy pow'r; Thou mak'st the mountains strong and stout to stand in ev'ry show'r:

Verse 7

The swelling seas thou dost asswage, making them very still; Thou dost restrain the people's rage, and rule them at thy will.

Verse 8

The folk that dwell throughout the earth shall dread thy signs to see, Morning and ev'ning with great mirth send praises up to thee.

Verse 9

When that the earth is chapt and dry, and thirsteth more and more, Then with thy drops thou dost supply and much increase her store;

Verse 10

The flood of God doth overflow, and so doth cause to spring The seed and corn which men do sow, for he doth guide the thing:

Verse 11

With rain thou dost her furrows fill, whereby her clods do fall; Thy drops on her thou dost distil, and bless her fruits withal:

Verse 12

Thou deck'st the earth of thy good grace with fair and pleasant crop, Thy clouds distil their dew apace, great plenty they do drop;

Verse 13

Whereby the desert shall begin full great increase to bring, The little hills shall joy therein, much fruit on them shall spring.

Verse 14

In places plain the flocks shall feed, and cover all the earth; The vales with corn shall so exceed, that they shall sing with mirth.