Psalm 25

First Version

Short Metre (6,6,8,6)

Suggested Tunes:

(vv.1-7) 173 Selma, 166 Kerry, 163 Franconia

(vv.8-14) 178 Swabia, 164 Garelochside

(vv.15-22) 177 Southwell, 171 St Bride

1    To thee I lift my soul:

2          O Lord, I trust in thee:

      My God, let me not be asham’d,

            nor foes triumph o’er me.

3    Let none that wait on thee

            be put to shame at all;

      But those that without cause transgress,

            let shame upon them fall.

3    Shew me thy ways, O Lord;

            thy paths, O teach thou me:

      And do thou lead me in thy truth,

            therein my teacher be:

4    For thou art God that dost

            to me salvation send,

5    And I upon thee all the day

            expecting do attend.

6    Thy tender mercies, Lord,

            I pray thee to remember,

      And loving-kindnesses; for they

            have been of old for ever.

7    My sins and faults of youth

            do thou, O Lord, forget:

      After thy mercy think on me,

            and for thy goodness great.

8    God good and upright is:

            the way he’ll sinners show.

9    The meek in judgment he will guide,

            and make his path to know.

10  The whole paths of the Lord

            are truth and mercy sure,

      To those that do his cov’nant keep,

            and testimonies pure.

11  Now, for thine own name’s sake,

            O Lord, I thee entreat

      To pardon mine iniquity;

            for it is very great.

12  What man is he that fears

            the Lord, and doth him serve?

      Him shall he teach the way that he

            shall chuse, and still observe.

13  His soul shall dwell at ease;

            and his posterity

      Shall flourish still, and of the earth

            inheritors shall be.

14  With those that fear him is

            the secret of the Lord;

      The knowledge of his covenant

            he will to them afford.

15  Mine eyes upon the Lord

            continually are set;

      For he it is that shall bring forth

            my feet out of the net.

16  Turn unto me thy face,

            and to me mercy show;

      Because that I am desolate,

            and am brought very low.

17  My heart’s griefs are increas’d:

            me from distress relieve.

18  See mine affliction and my pain,

            and all my sins forgive.

19  Consider thou my foes,

            because they many are;

      And it a cruel hatred is

            which they against me bear.

20  O do thou keep my soul,

            do thou deliver me:

      And let me never be asham’d,

            because I trust in thee.

21  Let uprightness and truth

            keep me, who thee attend.

      Redemption, Lord, to Israel

            from all his troubles send.

_____

Second Version

Common Metre (8,6,8,6)

Suggested Tunes:

(vv.1-7) 59 Evan

(vv.8-14) 124 St Paul

(vv.15-22) 42 Coleshill

1    To thee I lift my soul, O Lord:

2          My God, I trust in thee:

      Let me not be asham’d; let not

            my foes triumph o’er me.

3    Yea, let thou none ashamed be

            that do on thee attend:

      Ashamed let them be, O Lord,

            who without cause offend.

4    Thy ways, Lord, shew; teach me thy paths:

5          Lead me in truth, teach me:

      For of my safety thou art God;

            all day I wait on thee.

6    Thy mercies, that most tender are,

            do thou, O Lord, remember,

      And loving-kindnesses; for they

            have been of old for ever.

6    Let not the errors of my youth,

            nor sins, remember’d be:

      In mercy, for thy goodness’ sake,

            O Lord, remember me.

8    The Lord is good and gracious,

            he upright is also:

      He therefore sinners will instruct

            in ways that they should go.

9    The meek and lowly he will guide

            in judgment just alway:

      To meek and poor afflicted ones

            he’ll clearly teach his way.

10  The whole paths of the Lord our God

            are truth and mercy sure,

      To such as keep his covenant,

            and testimonies pure.

11  Now, for thine own name’s sake, O Lord,

            I humbly thee entreat

      To pardon mine iniquity;

            for it is very great.

12  What man fears God? him shall he teach

            the way that he shall chuse.

13  His soul shall dwell at ease; his seed

            the earth, as heirs, shall use.

14  The secret of the Lord is with

            such as do fear his name;

      And he his holy covenant

            will manifest to them.

15  Towards the Lord my waiting eyes

            continually are set;

      For he it is that shall bring forth

            my feet out of the net.

16  O turn thee unto me, O God,

            have mercy me upon;

      Because I solitary am,

            and in affliction.

17  Enlarg’d the griefs are of mine heart;

            me from distress relieve.

18  See mine affliction and my pain,

            and all my sins forgive.

19  Consider thou mine enemies,

            because they many are;

      And it a cruel hatred is

            which they against me bear.

20  O do thou keep my soul; O God,

            do thou deliver me:

      Let me not be asham’d; for I

            do put my trust in thee.

21  O let integrity and truth

            keep me, who thee attend.

22  Redemption, Lord, to Israel

            from all his troubles send.