- Blest be the Lord my strength, that doth
- instruct my hands to fight:
- The Lord that doth my fingers frame
- to battle by his might.
-
- 2 He is my goodness, fort and tower,
- deliverer and shield:
- In him I trust, my people he
- subdues to me to yield.
-
- 3 O Lord, what thing is man that him
- thou holdest so in price?
- Or son of man, that upon him
- thou thinkest in this wise?
-
- 4 Man is but like to vanity,
- so pass his days to end.
-
- 5 As fleeting shade, bow down, O Lord,
- the heavens and descend.
-
- 6 The mountains touch, and they shall smoke
- cast forth thy lightning flame.
- And scatter them: thine arrows shoot,
- consume them with the same.
-
- 7 Send down thy hand even from above,
- O Lord deliver me:
- Take me from waters great, from hand
- of strangers make me free.
-
- 8 Whose subtle mouth of vanity
- and fondness doth entreat:
- And their right hand is a right hand
- of falsehood and deceit.
-
- 9 A new song will I sing O God,
- and singing will I be
- On Viol and on instrument
- ten stringed unto thee.
-
- 10 Even he it is that only gives
- deliverance to kings?
- Unto his servant David help
- from hurtful sword he brings.
-
- 11 Form stranger’s hand me save and shield,
- whose mouths talk vanity:
- And their right hand is a right hand
- of guile and subtlety.
-
- 12 That our sons may be as the plants,
- whom growing youth doth rear:
- Our daughters as carved cornerstones,
- like to a Palace fair.
-
- 13 Our garners full, and plenty may
- with sundry sorts be found:
- Our sheep bring thousands, in our streets
- ten thousands may abound.
-
- 14 Our Oxen be to labor strong,
- that none do us invade:
- There be no going out, no cries
- within our streets be made.
-
- 15 The people blessed are that with
- such blessings are so stored:
- Yea, blessed all the people are,
- whose God is God the Lord.
