The exalter of my head I count.
Aloud I cried

Unto Jehovah, he full soon replied,
And card me from his holy mount.
I lay and slept; I waked again:
For my sustain

Was the Lord. Of many millions
The populous rout

I fear not, though, encamping round about, They pitch against me their pavilions.

Rise, Lord; save me, my God; for thou
Hast smote, ere now,

On the cheek-bone, all my foes,

Of men abhorr'd

[Lord,

Fist broke the teeth. This help was from the Thy blessing on thy people flows.

PSALM IV.

(August 10, 1653.)

ANSWER me when I call,
God of my righteousness;
In straits and in distress,
Thou didst me disenthral

And set at large: now spare,

Now pity me, and hear my earnest prayer.

Great ones, how long will ye

My glory have in scorn?

How long be thus forborne
Still to love vanity?

To love, to seek, to prize

Things false and vain, and nothing else but lies!

Yet know, the Lord hath chose,
Chose to himself apart,

The good and meek of heart

(For whom to choose he knows ;) Jehovah from on high

Will hear my voice, what time to him I cry. Be awed, and do not sin;

Speak to your hearts alone,

Upon your beds, each one,
And be at peace within.

Offer the offerings just

Of righteousness, and in Jehovah trust.

Many there be that say,

Who yet will show us good?

Talking like this world's brood;

But, Lord, thus let me pray;

On us lift

up the light,

Lift up the favour, of thy countenance bright.

Into my heart more joy

And gladness thou hast put,

Than when a year of glut

Their stores doth over-cloy,

And from their plenteous grounds,

With vast increase, their corn and wine abounds

In peace at once will I

Both lay me down and sleep;

For thou alone dost keep

Me safe where'er I lie;

As in a rocky cell

Thou, Lord, alone, in safety makest me dwell.

PSALM V.

(August 12, 1653.)

JEHOVAH, to my words give ear,

My meditation weigh;

The voice of my complaining hear,
My King and God; for unto thee I pray
Jehovah, thou my early voice

Shalt in the morning hear;

I' the morning I to thee with choice
Will rank my prayers, and watch till thou
For thou art not a God that takes
In wickedness delight;

Evil with thee no biding makes;

appear

Fools or mad men stand not within thy sight.

All workers of iniquity

Thou hatest; and them, unblest,

Thou wilt destroy that speak a lie;
The bloody and guileful man God doth detest.
But I will, in thy mercies dear,

Thy numerous mercies, go
Into thy house; I, in thy fear,

Will towards thy holy temple worship low.
Lord, lead me in thy righteousness,

Lead me, because of those

That do observe, if I transgress;

Set thy ways right before, where my step goes
For in his faltering mouth, unstable,

No word is firm or sooth;

Their inside, troubles miserable;

An open grave their throat, their tongue they smooth

God, fnd them guilty, let them fall

By their own counsels quell'd;
Push them in their rebellions all

Still on; for against thee they have rebell'd.
Then all who trust in thee shall bring
Their joy; while thou from blame
Defend'st them: they shall ever sing
And shall triumph in thee, who love thy name.
For thou, Jehovah, wilt be found

To bless the just man still:

As with a shield, thou wilt surround Ilim with thy lasting favour and good will,

PSALM VI.

(August 13, 1653.)

LORD, in thy anger do not reprehend me,
Nor in thy hot displeasure me correct;
Pity me, Lord, for I am much deject,

And very weak and faint; heal and amend me:
For all my bones, that even with anguish ache.

Are troubled; yea, my soul is troubled sore; And thou, O Lord, how long? Turn. Lord;

restore

My soul; oh, save me, for thy goodness' sake.
For, in death no remembrance is of thee;

Who in the grave can celebrate thy praise?
Wearied I am with sighing out my days;
Nightly my couch I make a kind of sea;
My bed I water with my tears; mine eye
Through grief consumes, is waxen old and dark
I' the midst of all mine enemies that mark.

Depart, all

ye that work iniquity,

Depart from me; for the voice of my weeping

The Lord hath heard; the Lord hath heard my

prayer;

My supplication with acceptance fair

The Lord will own, and have me in his keeping. Mine enemies shall all be blank, and dash'd

With much confusion; then, grown red with shame,

They shall return in haste the way they came, And in a moment shall be quite abash'd.

PSALM VII.

(August 14, 1653.)

Upon the words of Cush the Benjamite against him.

LORD, my God, to thee I fly;
Save me, and secure me under
Thy protection while I cry;
Lest, as a lion (and no wonder,}
He haste to tear my soul asunder,
Tearing, and no rescue nigh.

Lord, my God, if I have thought
Or done this; if wickedness

Be in my hands; if I have wrought
Ill to him that meant me peace;
Or to him have rendered less,
And not freed my foe for naught;

Let the enemy pursue my soul,
And overtake it; let him tread