1I waited for the Lord my God, and patiently did bear; At length to me he did incline my voice and cry to hear. | 2He took me from a fearful pit, and from the miry clay, And on a rock he set my feet, establishing my way. | 3He put a new song in my mouth, our God to magnify: Many shall see it, and shall fear, and on the Lord rely. | 4O blessed is the man whose trust upon the Lord relies; Respecting not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. | 5O Lord my God, full many are the wonders thou hast done; Thy gracious thoughts to us-ward far above all thoughts are gone: | In order none can reckon them to thee: if them declare, And speak of them I would, they more than can be number’d are. | 6No sacrifice nor offering didst thou at all desire; Mine ears thou bor’d: sin-off ‘ring thou and burnt didst not require: | 7Then to the Lord these were my words, I come, behold and see; Within the volume of the book it written is of me: | 8To do thy will I take delight, O thou my God that art; Yea, that most holy law of thine I have within my heart. | 9Within the congregation great I righteousness did preach: Lo, thou dost know, O Lord, that I refrained not my speech. | 10I never did within my heart conceal thy righteousness; I thy salvation have declar’d, and shown thy faithfulness: | Thy kindness, which most loving is, concealed have not I, Nor from the congregation great have hid thy verity. | 11Thy tender mercies, Lord, from me O do thou not restrain; Thy loving-kindness, and thy truth, let them me still maintain. | 12For ills past reck’ning compass me, and mine iniquities Such hold upon me taken have, I cannot lift mine eyes: | They more than hairs are on mine head, thence is my heart dismay’d. 13Be pleased, Lord, to rescue me; Lord, hasten to mine aid. | 14Sham’d and confounded be they all that seek my soul to kill; Yea, let them backward driven be, and sham’d, that wish me ill. | 15For a reward of this their shame confounded let them be. That in this manner scoffing say, Aha, aha! to me. | 16In thee let all be glad, and joy, who seeking thee abide; Who thy salvation love, say still, The Lord be magnify’d. | 17I’m poor and needy, yet the Lord of me a care doth take: Thou art my help and saviour, my God, no tarrying make. | |