The Whole Booke of Psalmes ‎#7

7. Diligam te Dom.

1 O God my strength and fortitude,
of force I must love thee:
Thou art my Castle and defence,
in my necessity,
2 My God, my rocke in whom I trust,
the worker of my wealth:
my refuge, buckler, and my shield,
the horne of all my health.

3 When I sing laud unto the Lord,
most worthy to be serv'd:
Then from my foes I am right sure,
that I shall be preserv'd:
4 The pangs of death did compasse me,
and bound me every where;
The flowing waves of wickedness
did put me in great feare.

5 The slie and subtill snares of hell
were round about me set:
And for my life there was prepar'd
a deadly trapping net.
6 I thus beset with paine and griefe,
did pray to God for grace:
And he forthwith did heare my plaint
out of his holy place.

7 Such is his power, that in his wrath
he made the earth to quake:
Yea the foundation of the mount
of Basan for to shake.
8 And from his nostrils came a smoke,
when kindled was his ire:
And from his month went burning coles
of hot consuming fire.

9 The Lord descended from above,
and bowed the heavens high:
And underneath his feet he cast
the darkness of the skie.
10 On Cherubs and on Cherubims
full royally he rode:
And on the wings of all the winds
came flying all abroad.

The second Part:

11 And like a den most dark he made
his hid and secret place:
With waters black and airy clouds
environed he was.
12 But when the presence of his face
in brightnesse shall appeare:
Then clouds consume, and in their stead
come haile and coales of fire.

13 The fiery darts and thunder-bolts
disperse them here and there:
And with his often lightenings
he puts them in great feare.
14 Lord at thy wrath and threatenings,
and at thy chiding cheare
The springs and the foundations
of all the world appeare.

15 And from above the Lord sent down
to fetch me from below:
And pluck'd me out of waters great,
that would me overflow.
16 And me delivered from my foes
that would have made me thrall:
Yea, from such foes as were too strong
for me to deale withall.

17 They did prevent to oppresse
in time of my great griefe:
But yet the Lord is my defence,
my succour and relief.
18 He brought me forth in open place,
whereas I might be free:
And kept me safe, because he had
a favour unto me.

19 And as I was an innocent,
so did he me regard:
And to the cleannesse of my hands
he gave me my reward.
20 For that I walk-ed in his waies,
and in his paths have trod:
And have not sinned wickedly
against my Lord and God.

The third Part:

21 But evermore I have respect
to his law and decree:
His statutes and commandments
I cast not out from me.
22 But pure and clean, and uncorrupt,
appear'd before his face:
And did refraine from wickednesse,
and sin in any case.

23 The Lord therefore will me reward,
as I have done aright:
And to the cleannesse of my hands
appearing in his sight.
24 For Lord, with him that holy is,
wilt thou be holy too,
And with the good and virtuous men
right vertuously wilt do.

25 And for the loving and elect
thy favor wilt reserve:
And thou wilt use the wicked men
as wicked men deserve
26 For thou dost save the simple folk
in trouble when they lie:
And dost bring downe the countenance
of them that look full high.

27 The Lord will light my candle so,
that it shall shine full bright:
The Lord my God will make also
my darknesse to be light.
28 For by thy help an hoast of men
discomfit Lord I shall:
By thee I scale and over-leap
the strength of any wall.

29 Unspotted are the waies of God,
his word is purely tri'd;
He is a sure defense to such
as in his faith abide.
30 For who is God except the Lord,
for other there is none:
Or els who is omnipotent,
saving our God alone?

The fourth Part:

31 The God that girdeth me with strength,
is he that I do mean:
That all the waies wherein I walk,
did evermore keep clean.
32 That made my feet like to the Harts,
in swiftnesse of my pace:
And for my surety brought me forth
into an open place.

33 He did in order put my hands
to battel and to fight:
To break in sunder barsre of brasse,
he gave my arms the might.
34 Thou teachest me thy saving health,
thy right hand is my tower:
Thy love and familiarity
doth still increase my power.

35 And under me thou makest plaine
the way where I should walk:
So that my feet shall never slip,
nor stumble at a balk.
36 And fiercely I pursue and take
my foes that me annoid:
And from the field do not return
till they be all destroid.

37 So I suppresse and wound my foes,
that they can rise no more:
For at my feet they fall down flat,
I strike them all so sore.
38 For thou dost gird me with thy strength
to warre in such a wise:
That they be all scattered abrouad,
that up against me rise.

39 Lord thou hast put into mine hands
my mortall enemies yoke:
and all my foes thou dost divide
in sunder with thy stroke.
40 They call'd for help, but none gave eare,
nor help them with relief:
Yea to the Lord they call'd for help,
yet heard he not their griefe.

The fifth Part.

41 And still, like dust before the wind,
I drive them under feet:
And sweep them out like filthy clay,
that sticketh in the street.
42 Thou keep'st me from seditious folk
that still in strife are led:
And thou dost of the heathen folk
appoint me to be head.

43 A people strange to me unknowne,
and yet they shall me serve:
And at the first obey my word,
whereas my own will swerve.
44 I shall be irksome to my own,
they will not see my light:
But wander wide out of the way,
and hide them out of sight.

45 But blessed be the living Lord,
most worthy of all praise:
That is my rock and saving health,
praised be he alwaies.

46 For God it is that gave me power,
revenged for to be;
And with his holy word subdu'd
the people unto me.

47 And from my foe delivered me,
and set me above those
That cruell and ungodly were,
and up against me rose.
48 And for this cause O Lord my God,
to thee give thanks I shall;
And sing out praises to thy Name,
among the Gentiles all:

49 That gavest great prosperity
unto the King I say:
To David thine anointed King
and to his seed for aye.

Text Information

• First Line: O God my strength and fortitude
• Title: Diligam te Dom.
• Author: T. S.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1640
• Scripture:
  Psalm 18

Tune Information

• Name: [O God my strength and fortitude]
• Key: g minor