The Whole Booke of Psalmes ‎#4

4. The humble sute of a sinner

1 O Lord of whom I do depend,
behold my carefull heart:
and when thy will and pleasure is,
release me of my smart.
Thou seest my sorrowes what they are,
my griefe is knowne to thee:
and there is none that can remove,
or take the same from me.

2 But onely thou whose aide I crave,
whose mercy still is prest
To ease all those that come to thee
for succour and for rest.
And sith thou seest my restlesse eyes,
my teares and grievous grone:
Attend unto my sute (O Lord)
marke well my plaint and mone.

3 For sinne hath so enclosed me,
and compast me about:
That I am now remedilesse,
if mercy help not out.
For mortall man cannot release,
or mittigate this paine:
But even thy Christ my Lord and God,
which for my sinne was slaine.

4 Whoese bloudy wounds are yet to see,
though not with mortall eye:
Yet doe thy Saints behold them all,
and so I trust shall I.
Though sinne doth hinder me a while,
when thou shalt see it good:
I shall enjoy the sight of him,
and see his wounds and bloud.

5 And as thine Angels, and thy Saints,
doe now behold the same:
So trust I to possesse that place,
with them to praise thy name.
But whilst I live here in this vale,
where sinners doe frequent:
Assist me ever with thy grace,
my sinnes still to lament.

6 Least that I tread in sinners trace,
and give them my consent
to dwell with them in wickednesse,
whereto nature is bent.
Onely thy grace must be my stay,
least that I fall downe flat:
And being downe then of my selfe
cannot recover that.

7 Wherefore this is yet once againe,
my sute and my request:
To grant me pardon for my sinne,
that I in thee may rest.
Then shall my heart my tongue & voyce
be instruments of praise:
And in thy Church and house of Saints,
sing Psalmes to thee alwayes.

Text Information

• First Line: O Lord of whom I doe depend
• Title: The humble sute of a sinner
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1621
• Notes: Public domain.

Tune Information

• Name: [O Lord of whom I doe depend]
• Harmonizer: Robert Palmer
• Incipit: 15431 32114 72177
• Key: d minor or modal