Thy chastening wrath, O Lord, restrain › Representative Texts

1 Thy chast'ning Wrath, O Lord, restrain,
tho' I deserve it all;
Nor let at once on me the Storm
of thy Displeasure fall.
2 In ev'ry wretched Part of me
thy Arrows deep remain;
Thy heavy Hand's afflicting Weight
I can no more sustain.

3 My Flesh is one continu'd Wound,
Thy Wrath so fiercely glows;
Betwixt my Punishment and Guilt,
my Bones have no Repose.
4 My Sins, which to a Deluge swell,
my sinking Head o'erflow;
And, for my feeble Strength to bear,
too vast a Burden grow.

5 Stench and Corruption fill my Wounds,
my Folly's just Return:
6 With Trouble I am warp'd and bow'd,
and all Day long I mourn.
7 A loath'd Disease afflicts my Loins,
infecting ev'ry Part;
8 With Sickness worn, I groan and roar,
thro' Anguish of my Heart.

Part II

9 But, Lord, before thy searching Eyes
all my Desires appear;
And, sure, my Groans have been too loud,
not to have reach'd thine Ear.
10 My Heart oppress'd, my Strength decay'd,
my Eyes depriv'd of Light:
11 Friends, Lovers, Kinsmen, gaze aloof
on such a dismal Sight.

12 Mean while, the Foes that seek my Life,
their Snares to take me set;
Vent Slanders,and contrive all Day
to forge some new Deceit.
13 But I, as if both deaf and dumb,
nor heard, nor once reply'd;
14 Quite deaf and dumb, like one whose tongue
with conscious Guilt is ty'd.

15 For Lord, to Thee, I do appeal,
my Innocence to clear;
Assur'd that Thou, the righteous God,
my injur'd Cause wilt hear.
16 "Hear me," said I, "lest my proud Foes
"a spiteful Joy display;
"Insulting, if they see my foot
"but once to go astray."

17 And, with continual Grief oppress'd,
to sink I now begin.
18 To Thee, O Lord, I will confess,
to Thee bewail my sin.
19 But whilst I languish, my proud Foes
their Strength and Vigour boast;
And they who hate me without Cause,
are grown a dreadful Host.

20 Ev'n they whom I oblig'd, return
my Kindness with Despite;
And are my Enemies, because,
I chuse the Path that's right.
21 Forsake me not, O Lord my God,
nor far from me depart;
22 Make haste to my Relief, O Thou
who my Salvation art.

A New Version of the Psalms of David: Fitted to the Tunes Used in Churches #75

1 Thy chastening wrath, O Lord, restrain,
Though I deserve it all;
Nor let on me the heavy storm
Of Thy displeasure fall.

2 My sins, which to a deluge swell,
My sinking head o'er flow,
And, for my feeble strength to bear,
Too vast a burden grow.

3 But, Lord, before Thy searching eyes
All my desires apper;
The groanings of my burden'd soul
Have reach'd Thine open ear.

4 Forsake me not, O Lord, my God,
Nor far from me depart:
Make hast to my relief, O Thou
Who my salvation art.

Hymnal: according to the use of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America #51

1 Thy chast'ning Wrath, O Lord, restrain,
Though I deserve it all;
Nor let on me the Storm
Of thy Displeasure fall.
In ev'ry wretched Part of me
I feel thy Arrows deep remain;
Thy Hand's afflicting Weight,
I can no more sustain.

2 My Flesh is one continued Wound,
Because thy Wrath so fiercely glows;
Betwixt my Pain and Guilt,
My Bones have no Repose:
My Sins, which to a Deluge swell,
My sinking Head almost o'erflow;
And for my Strength to bear,
Too great a Burden grow.

3 Stench and Corruption fill my Wounds,
My foul Offences just Return;
In Trouble I am brought,
And all Day long I mourn.
A loath'd Disease afflicts my Loins,
Infecting ev'ry inward Part;
And constantly I groan,
Through Anguish of my Heart.

Part II

4 But, LORD, before thy searching Eyes,
All my Desires must sure appear;
My Groans have been too loud,
Not to have reach'd thine Ear.
My Heart's oppress'd, my Strength decay'd,
My feeble Eyes depriv'd of Light:
My Friends and Kinsmen gaze
On such a dismal Sight.

5 Mean while, the Foes that seek my Life,
Their secret Snares to take me set;
And all the Day contrive
To forge some new Deceit.
But I, as if both deaf and dumb,
Nor heard, nor once reply'd,
Like one whose silent Tongue
By conscious Guilt is ty'd.

6 For LORD! to thee, I do appeal,
My clouded Innocence to clear;
For Thou, the righteous GOD,
My injur'd Cause wilt hear.
"Hear me, said I, lest my proud Foes,
"A spiteful Triumph should display;
"If they should see my Foot,
"But once to go astray.

7 Lo! with continual Grief oppress'd,
To sink, I must at length begin;
To thee I will confess,
To Thee bewail my Sin:
But whilst I languish, my proud Foes,
Still of their Strength and Vigour boast;
And they, who trouble me
Are grown a dreadful Host.

8 Ev'n they whom I oblig'd, return
My loving Kindness with Despite;
And hate me, but because,
I chuse the Path that's right.
Forsake me not, oh LORD my GOD!
Nor from me, in Distress, depart;
Haste thou to my Relief,
Who my Salvation art.

The Psalms of David: with the Ten Commandments, Creed, Lord's Prayer, &c. in metre...for the use of the Reformed Protestant Dutch church of the city of New York #XXXVIII