Psalm 57

Common Metre (8,6,8,6)

Suggested Tunes:

(vv.1-3) 85 Martyrdom, 140 Torwood

(vv.4-11) 151 Old 22nd, 74 Hermon, 143 Warwick

1    Be merciful to me, O God;

            thy mercy unto me

      Do thou extend; because my soul

            doth put her trust in thee:

      Yea, in the shadow of thy wings

            my refuge I will place,

      Until these sad calamities

            do wholly overpass.

2    My cry I will cause to ascend

            unto the Lord most high;

      To God, who doth all things for me

            perform most perfectly.

3    From heav’n he shall send down, and me

            from his reproach defend

      That would devour me: God his truth

            and mercy forth shall send.

4    My soul among fierce lions is,

            I firebrands live among,

      Men’s sons, whose teeth are spears and darts,

            a sharp sword is their tongue.

5    Be thou exalted very high

            above the heav’ns, O God;

      Let thou thy glory be advanc’d

            o’er all the earth abroad.

6    My soul ’s bow’d down; for they a net

            have laid, my steps to snare:

      Into the pit which they have digg’d

            for me, they fallen are.

7    My heart is fix’d, my heart is fix’d,

            O God; I’ll sing and praise.

8    My glory wake; wake psalt’ry, harp;

            myself I’ll early raise.

9    I’ll praise thee ’mong the people, Lord;

            ’mong nations sing will I:

10  For great to heav’n thy mercy is,

            thy truth is to the sky.

11  O Lord, exalted be thy name

            above the heav’ns to stand:

      Do thou thy glory far advance

            above both sea and land.