Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PSALM 18. DILIGAM TE, by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PSALM 18. DILIGAM TE, by                    
First Line: Thee will I love, o lord, with all my heart's delight
Last Line: For david his anoint, and his seed, evermore.


Thee will I love, O Lord, with all my heart's delight,
My strength, my strongest rock, which my defense hast borne,
My God, and helping God, my might, and trustful might,
My never-pierced shield, my ever-saving horn,
My refuge, refuge then, when most I am forlorn;
Whom then shall I invoke, but Thee, most worthy praise,
On whom against my foes my only safety stays?

On me the pains of death already gan to prey,
The floods of wickedness on me did horrors throw;
Like in a winding sheet, wretch I already lay,
All ready, ready to my snaring grave to go.
This my distress to God with wailful cries I show,
My cries climbed up and He bent down from sacred throne,
His eyes unto my case, His ears unto my moan.

And so the earth did fall to tremble, and to quake
The mountains proudly high, and their foundations bent
With motion of His rage did to the bottom shake.
He came, but came with smoke from out His nostrils sent,
Flames issued from His mouth, and burning coals out went;
He bowed the heavens, and from the bowed heavens did descend
With hugey darkness, which about His feet did wend.

The cherubims their backs, the winds did yield their wings,
To bear His sacred flight, in secret place then closed,
About which He dim clouds like a pavilion brings,
Clouds even of waters dark, and thickest air composed;
But straight His shining eyes this misty mass disclosed.
Then hail, then fiery coals, then thundered heavenly sire,
Then spake He His loud voice, then hailstones coals and fire.

Then out His arrows fly, and straight they scattered been,
Lightning on lightning He did for their wrack augment;
The gulfs of waters then were through their channels seen,
The world's foundations then lay bare because He shent
With blasting breath, O Lord, that in Thy chiding went.
Then sent He from above, and took me from below,
Even from the water's depth my God preserved me so.

So did He save me from my mighty furious foe,
So did He save me from their then prevailing hate,
For they had caught me up, when I was weak in woe;
But He, staff of my age, He stayed my stumbling state
This much, yet more, when I by Him this freedom gate,
By Him because I did find in His eyes' sight grace,
He lifted me unto a largely noble place.

My justice, my just hands thus did the Lord reward,
Because I walked His ways, nor 'gainst Him ev'ly went,
Still to His judgments looked, still for His statutes cared,
Sound and upright with Him, to wickedness not bent.
Therefore I say again this goodness He me sent,
As He before His eyes did see my justice stand,
According as He saw the pureness of my hand.

Meek to the meek Thou art, the good Thy goodness taste;
Pure to the pure, Thou dealst with crooked crookedly;
Up then, Thou liftst the poor, and down the proud wilt cast;
Up, Thou dost light my light, and clear my darkened eye.
I hosts by Thee o'ercome, by Thee o'er walls I fly;
Thy way is soundly sure, Thy word is purely tried;
To them that trust in Thee a shield Thou dost abide.

For who is God besides this great Jehova ours?
And so besides our God, who is endued with might?
This God then girded me in His Almighty pow'rs,
He made my cumbrous way to me most plainly right.
To match with light foot stags he made my foot so light
That I climbed highest hill; He me war points did show,
Strengthening mine arms that they could break an iron bow.

Thou gavest me saving shield, Thy right hand was my stay;
Me in increasing still, Thy kindness did maintain;
Unto my strengthened steps Thou didst enlarge the way,
My heels and plants Thou didst from stumbling slip sustain;
What foes I did pursue my force did them attain,
That I ere I returned, destroyed them utterly
With such brave wounds, that they under my feet did lie.

For why my fighting strength by Thy strength strengthened was.
Not I, but Thou, throw'st down those, who 'gainst me do rise;
Thou gavest me their necks, on them Thou madest me pass.
Behold they cry, but who to them his help applies?
Nay unto Thee they cried, but Thou heardst not their cries.
I bett those folks as small as dust, which wind doth raise;
I bett them as the clay is bett in beaten ways.

Thus freed from mutin men, Thou makest me to reign,
Yea Thou dost make me served by folks I never knew;
My name their ears, their ears their hearts to me enchain;
Even fear makes strangers show much love though much untrue.
But they do fail, and in their mazed corners rue.
Then live Jehova still, my rock blessed be;
Let Him be lifted up, that hath preserved me!

He that is my revenge, in whom I realms subdue,
Who freed me from my foes, from rebels guarded me,
And rid me from the wrongs which cruel wits did brew;
Among the Gentiles then I, Lord, yield thanks to Thee,
I to Thy Name will sing, and this my song shall be:
He nobly saves His King, and kindness keeps in store,
For David his anoint, and his seed, evermore.





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