Psalm 71

Common Metre (8,6,8,6)

Suggested Tunes:

(vv.1-8) 44 Contemplation, 72 Haresfield, 138 Tallis

(vv.9-13) 47 Culross, 142 Walsall

(vv.14-24) 136 Stracathro, 145 Wetherby

1    O Lord, my hope and confidence.

            is plac’d in thee alone;

      Then let thy servant never be

            put to confusion.

2    And let me, in thy righteousness,

            from thee deliv’rance have;

      Cause me escape, incline thine ear

            unto me, and me save.

3    Be thou my dwelling-rock, to which

            I ever may resort:

      Thou gav’st commandment me to save,

            for thou ’rt my rock and fort.

4    Free me, my God, from wicked hands,

            hands cruel and unjust:

5    For thou, O Lord God, art my hope,

            and from my youth my trust.

6    Thou from the womb didst hold me up;

            thou art the same that me

      Out of my mother’s bowels took;

            I ever will praise thee.

7    To many I a wonder am;

            but thou ’rt my refuge strong.

8    Fill’d let my mouth be with thy praise

            and honour all day long.

9    O do not cast me off, when as

            old age doth overtake me;

      And when my strength decayed is,

            then do not thou forsake me.

10  For those that are mine enemies

            against me speak with hate;

      And they together counsel take

            that for my soul lay wait.

11  They said, God leaves him; him pursue

            and take: none will him save.

12  Be thou not far from me, my God:

            thy speedy help I crave.

13  Confound, consume them, that unto

            my soul are enemies:

      Cloth’d be they with reproach and shame

            that do my hurt devise.

14  But I with expectation

            will hope continually;

      And yet with praises more and more

            I will thee magnify.

15  Thy justice and salvation

            my mouth abroad shall shew,

      Ev’n all the day; for I thereof

            the numbers do not know.

16  And I will constantly go on

            in strength of God the Lord;

      And thine own righteousness, ev’n thine

            alone, I will record.

17  For even from my youth, O God,

            by thee I have been taught;

      And hitherto I have declar’d

            the wonders thou hast wrought.

18  And now, Lord, leave me not, when I

            old and gray-headed grow:

      Till to this age thy strength and pow’r

            to all to come I shew.

19  And thy most perfect righteousness,

            O Lord, is very high,

      Who has so great things done: O God,

            who is like unto thee?

20  Thou, Lord, who great adversities,

            and sore, to me didst shew,

      Shalt quicken, and bring me again

            from depths of earth below.

21  My greatness and my pow’r thou wilt

            increase, and far extend:

      On ev’ry side against all grief

            thou wilt me comfort send.

22  Thee, ev’n thy truth, I’ll also praise,

            my God, with psaltery:

      Thou Holy One of Israel,

            with harp I’ll sing to thee.

23  My lips shall much rejoice in thee,

            when I thy praises sound;

      My soul, which thou redeemed hast,

            in joy shall much abound.

24  My tongue thy justice shall proclaim,

            continuing all day long;

      For they confounded are, and sham’d,

            that seek to do me wrong.