Psalm 34 T.S.
Words: Sternhold and Hopkins, The Whole Book of Psalms Collected into English Metre
Note: for a slightly different reading of this same Thomas Sternhold Psalm,
see the setting of Psalm 34, Scottish Psalter of 1635
1 I will give laud and honor both
unto the Lord always;
My mouth also for evermore
shall speak unto his praise.
2 I do delight to praise the Lord,
in soul, ill heart, in voice,
That humble men may hear thereof,
and heartily rejoice.
3 Therefore see that ye magnify
with me the living Lord;
Let us exalt his holy Name
always with one accord.
4 For I myself besought the Lord,
he answered me again,
And me delivered speedily
From all my fear and pain.
5 Whoso they be that him behold,
shall see his light most clear;
Their countenance shall not be dashed,
they never need to fear.
6 The poor distressèd man for help
unto the Lord doth call,
Who doth him hear without delay,
and rid him out of thrall.
7 The angel of the Lord doth pitch
his tents in ev'ry place,
To save all such as do him fear,
that nothing them deface.
8 Taste, and consider well therefore,
that God is good and just!
O happy man, that maketh him
his only stay and trust!
9 O fear the Lord, all ye his saints,
who is a mighty King;
For they that fear the living Lord,
are sure to lack nothing.
10 The lions shall be hunger-bit,
and pined with famine much;
But as for them that fear the Lord,
no lack shall be to such.
The Second Part.
11 Come near to me, my children, and
unto my words give ear;
I will you teach the perfect way,
how ye the Lord shall fear.
12 Who is the man that would live long,
and lead a happy life?
See thou refrain thy tongue and lips
from all deceit and strife.
13 Turn back thy face from doing ill,
and do the godly deed:
Inquire for peace and quietness,
and follow it with speed.
14 For why? the eyes of God above
upon the just are bent;
His ears likewise to hear the cry
of the poor innocent.
15 But he doth frown, and bend his brows
upon the wicked train,
And cuts away the memory
that should of them remain.
16 But when the just do call and cry,
the Lord doth hear them so,
That out of pain and misery
forthwith he lets them go.
17 The Lord is ever nigh to them
that broken-hearted are,
And for the contrite spirit he
salvation doth prepare.
18 Full many be the miseries
that righteous men endure;
But of deliv'rance from them all
the Lord doth them secure.
19 The Lord doth so preserve and keep
their very bones alway,
That not so much as one of them
doth perish or decay.
20 The sin shall slay the wicked man
which he himself hath wrought;
And such as hate the righteous man
shall soon be brought to nought.
21 But they that fear the living Lord
are ever safe and sound;
And as for those that trust in him,
nothing shall them confound.
