I'll dearly love thee, Lord, my strength

I'll dearly love thee, Lord, my strength

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Representative Text

1 I'll dearly love thee, Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord's my rock, my fort likewise
And Savior mine, my God, my strength,
My shield on whom my trust relies,
My safety's horn, my tower likewise.
3 Upon Jehovah I will call
Who to be praised worthy is;
So from my foes be saved I shall.

4 Death's sorrows me encompassed,
And floods of Belial frighted me.
5 Hell's pangs me round environed;
The snares of death prevented me.
6 In my straits on the Lord called I,
And to my God cried; he did hear
My voice from's temple, and my cry
Before him came into his ear.

7 Then the earth did shake and quake, likewise,
Moved hills foundations shook at's ire.
8 Smoke from his nostrils did arise
And from his mouth devouring fire,
By it the coals en-kindled were.
9 Likewise the heavens he down bowed
And he descended; also there
Was at his feet a gloomy cloud.

10 And he on cherubs rode apace,
Yea on the wings of wind he flew.
11 He darkness made his secret place
His covert round about him drew,
Dark waters, and thick clouds of skies.
12 From brightness that before him was
His thickened clouds did pass likewise
Hail-stones and coals of fire did pass.

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13 Jehovah thundered forth also,
Within the heavens in his ire,
The highest caused his voice to go
Hail-stones and burning coals of fire,
14 Yea he his arrows did send out,
And bruising he them scattered:
And lightnings he did hurl about,
And them with dread discomfited.

14 The channels where the waters past
Were seen, the ground-works of the world
Appeared at thy rebuke, at blast
Of thy displeasure's breath, O Lord.
16 He from above sent, he me set
The waters great he drew me for;
17 From my strong foes, me free he set
From them that hated me also.

For they were mightier than I.
18 They me prevented in the day
Of that my dark calamity.
Yet was the Lord for me a stay.
19 And he led me a large place to,
He saved me, for he did delight
10 In me. The Lord repaid me so,
According as I did aright.

After the pureness of my hands
He gave a recompense to me.
21 Because I kept the Lord's commands,
Nor I from God went wickedly.
22 Fro judgements all were in my sight:
Nor from me his decrees put I:
23 And I before him was upright,
Me kept from mine iniquity.

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24 Therefore the Lord rewarded me
According as I did aright;
After mine hands integrity,
That did appear before his sight.
24 With persons merciful that are
Thou merciful thy self wilt show;
Thou upright wilt thy self declare
With such as upright are also.

26 With such as hollow purity,
That thou art pure thou wilt declare;
For thou wilt turn thy self away
Against them all that froward are.
27 Because thou safety wilt afford
To poor folk; but high looks suppress.
28 But thou wilt light my lamp, the Lord
My God will lighten my darkness,

29 For through a troop by thee i ride;
And by my God leaped o'er a wall.
30 God's way entire, the Lord's word tried;
That trust in him he's shield to all.
31 For who is God the Lord but he?
Or who a rock our God besides?
32 It's God with strength that girdeth me
And me in perfect way doth guide.

33 He makes my feet like as a roe,
And on my high place makes me stand!
34 Mine arms do break the brazen bow;
So well to war he learns my hand.
35 And of thy saving health the shield
thou hast bestowed upon me;
And thy right hand hath me upheld,
Thy meekness made me great to be.

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36 Thou under me my steps mad'st large
So that my ankles did not slide.
37 My foes pursued, and o'er charge
I turned not till they were destroyed.
38 I pierced them that they could not rise,
They at my feet did fall subdued.
39 Fro thou hast girded me likewise
Unto the war with fortitude.

Thou hast subdued under me
Those that did up against me rise,
40 My foes their necks thou gavest me
That I might waste mine enemies.
41 They cried; but none to save thy find:
To God, but with no answer meet.
42 I beat them then as dust in the wind,
And cast them out as dust in the street.

43 And thou hast me delivered
From people that contentious be:
Thou of the heathen mad'st me head,
The folk I knew not, shall serve me.
44 They'll at first hearing me obey;
Themselves shall strangers yield to me.
45 The strangers sons shall fade away,
And from their closets frighted be.

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46 Give Lord, and let my rock be blest:
God of my health exalted be.
47 God that for me revenge expressed,
And brings down people under me.
48 He saved me from mine enemies;
And thou didst lift me higher than
Those that did up against me rise;
And freed me from the violent man.

49 I will therefore to thee confess
With thanks the heathen folk among,
Jehovah to thy name express
My praises will in a song.
50 He giveth great salvation
Unto his king; and doth display
His mercy to's anointed one,
To David and his seed for aye.

The Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs of the Old and New Testament, 1758

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First Line: I'll dearly love thee, Lord, my strength
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

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The Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs of the Old and New-Testament #PXVIII

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