by John Milton
Thou hast made firm and strong.
65
16
But now it is consum’d with fire,
And cut with Axes down.
They perish at thy dreadfull ire,
At thy rebuke and frown.
17
Upon the man of thy right hand
70
Let thy good hand be laid,
Upon the Son of Man, whom thou
Strong for thy self hast made.
18
So shall we not go back from thee
To wayes of sin and shame,
75
Quick’n us thou, then gladly wee
Shall call upon thy Name.
19
Return us, and thy grace divine
Lord God of Hosts voutsafe,
Cause thou thy face on us to shine,
80
And then we shall be safe.
(Apr. 1648)
* * *
1 In accord with usual practice in printing biblical texts, Milton pointed out that “all but what is in a different Character [i.e., italicized] are the very words of the Text, translated from the Original.” The nine psalms were rendered in the common measure (ballad stanza) of standard psalters (e.g., Sternhold and Hopkins), paraphrasing rather than translating, and expanding or compressing original verses as desired. Marginal notes cite the Hebrew (or a more literal translation). Written during the civil wars, the subject matter and tone of the psalms may reflect Milton’s dejection from the course of events and his hope for the future under enlightened leadership. See also the discussion by William B. Hunter, Jr., in PQ, XL (1961), 485-94.
a Gnorera.
b Gnashanta.
c Shalish.
d Jilgnagu.
Psalm 81
1
To God our strength sing loud, and clear
Sing loud to God our King,
To Jacobs God, that all may hear
Loud acclamations ring.
5
2
Prepare a Hymn, prepare a Song,
The Timbrel hither bring,
The cheerfull Psaltry bring along
And Harp with pleasant string.
3
Blow, as is wont, in the new Moon
10
With Trumpets lofty sound,
Th’ appointed time, the day wheron
Our solemn Feast comes round.
4
This was a Statute giv’n of old
For Israel to observe,
15
A Law of Jacobs God, to hold
From whence they might not swerve.
5
This he a Testimony ordain’d
In Joseph, not to change,
When as he pass’d through Ægypt land;
20
The Tongue I heard was strange.
6
From burden, and from slavish toyl
I set his shoulder free;
His hands from pots, and mirie soyl
Deliver’d were by me.
25
7
When trouble did thee sore assail,
On me then didst thou call,
And I to free thee did not fail,
And led thee out of thrall
I answer’d thee in a thunder deep
30
With clouds encompass’d round;
I tri’d thee at the water steep
Of Meriba renown’d.
8
Hear O my people, heark’n well,
I testifie to thee
35
Thou antient stock of Israel,
If thou wilt list to mee,
9
Throughout the land of thy abode
No alien God shall be,
Nor shalt thou to a forein God
40
In honour bend thy knee.
10
I am the Lord thy God which brought
Thee out of Ægypt land;
Ask large enough, and I, besought,
Will grant thy full demand.
45
11
And yet my people would not hear,
Nor hearken to my voice;
And Israel whom I lov’d so dear
Mislik’d me for his choice.
12
Then did I leave them to their will
50
And to their wandring mind;
Their own conceits they follow’d still
Their own devises blind.
13
O that my people would be wise
To serve me all their daies,
55
And O that Israel would advise
To walk my righteous waies.
14
Then would I soon bring down their foes
That now so proudly rise,
And turn my hand against all those
60
That are their enemies.
15
Who hate the Lord should then be fain
To bow to him and bend,
But they, his People, should remain,
Their time should have no end.
65
16
And we would feed them from the shock
With flour of finest wheat,
And satisfie them from the rock
With Honey for their Meat.
(Apr. 1648)
* * *
a Besether ragnam.
Psalm 82
1
God in the a great a assembly stands
Of Kings and lordly States,
Among the gods b on both his hands
He judges and debates.
5
2
How long will ye c pervert the right
With c judgment false and wrong,
Favouring the wicked by your might,
Who thence grow bold and strong?
3
d Regard the d weak and fatherless,
10
d Dispatch the d poor mans cause,
And e raise the man in deep distress
By e just and equal Laws.
4
Defend the poor and desolate,
And rescue from the hands
15
Of wicked men the low estate
Of him that help demands.
5
They know not nor will understand,
In darkness they walk on,
The Earths foundation all are f mov’d
20
And f out of order gon.
6
I said that ye were Gods, yea all
The Sons of God most high.
7
But ye shall die like men, and fall
As other Princes die.
25
8
Rise God, g judge thou the earth in might,
This wicked earth g redress,
For thou art he who shalt by right
The Nations all possess.
(Apr. 1648)
* * *
a Bagnadath-el.
b Bekerev.
c Tishphetu gnavel.
d Shiphtudal.
e Hatzdiku.
f Jimmotu.
g Shiphta.
Psalm 83
1
Be not thou silent now at length
O God hold not thy peace,
Sit not thou still O God of strength,
We cry and do not cease.
5
2
For lo thy furious foes now a swell
And a storm outrageously,
And they that hate thee proud and fell
Exalt their heads full high.
3
Against thy people they b contrive
10
c Their Plots and Counsels deep,
d Them to ensnare they chiefly strive
e Whom thou dost hide and keep.
4
Come let us cut them off, say they,
Till they no Nation be,
1
5
That Israels name for ever may
Be lost in memory.
5
For they consult f with all their might,
And all as one in mind
Themselves against thee they unite
20
And in firm union bind.
6
The tents of Edom, and the brood
Of scornful Ishmael,
Moab, with them of Hagars blood
That in the Desart dwell
25
7
Gebal and Ammon there conspire,
And hateful Amalec,
The Philistims, and they of Tyre
Whose bounds the Sea doth check.
8
With them great Asshur also bands
30
And doth confirm the knot,
All these have lent their armed hands
To aid the Sons of Lot.
9
Do to them as to Midian bold
That wasted all the Coast,
35
To Sisera, and as is told
Thou didst to Jabins hoast,
When at the brook of Kishon old
They were repulsi and slain,
10
At Endor quite cut off, and rowl’d
40
As dung upon the plain.
11
As Zeb and Oreb evil sped
So let their Princes speed,
As Zeba, and Zalmunna bled
So let their Princes bleed.
45
12
For they amidst their pride have said
By right now shall we seize
Gods houses, and will now invade
g Their stately Palaces.
13
My God, oh make them as a wheel,
50
No quiet let them find,
Giddy and restless let them reel
Like stubble from the wind.
14
As when an aged wood takes fire
Which on a sudden straies,
55
The greedy flame runs higher and higher
Till all the mountains blaze,
15
So with thy whirlwind them pursue,
And with thy tempest chase;
16
h And till they h yield thee honour due,
60
Lord fill with shame their face.
17
Asham’d and troubl’d let them be,
Troubl’d and sham’d for ever,
Ever confounded, and so die
With shame, and scape it never.
65
18
Then shall they know that thou whose name
Jehova is alone,
Art the most high, and thou the same
O’re all the earth art one.
(Apr. 1648)
* * *
a Jehemajun.
b Jagnarimu.
c Sod.
d Jithjagnatsugnal
e Tsephuneca.
f Lev jachdau.
g Neoth Elohim bears both.1
h They seek thy Name, Heb.
1 That is, both “Gods houses” and “Their stately Palaces.”
Psalm 84
1
How lovely are thy dwellings fair!
O Lord of Hoasts, how dear
The pleasant Tabernacles are
Where thou dost dwell so near!
5
2
My Soul doth long and almost die
Thy Courts O Lord to see,
My heart and flesh aloud do crie,
O living God, for thee.
3
There ev’n the Sparrow freed from wrong
10
Hath found a house of rest,
The Swallow there, to lay her young
Hath built her brooding nest,
Ev’n by thy Altars Lord of Hoasts
They find their safe abode,
15
And home they fly from round the Coasts
Toward thee, My King, my God.
4
Happy, who in thy house reside
Where thee they ever praise,
5
Happy, whose strength in thee doth bide,
20
And in their hearts thy waies.
6
They pass through Baca’s thirstie Vale,
That dry and barren ground
As through a fruitfull watry Dale
Where Springs and Showrs abound.
25
7
They journey on from strength to strength
With joy and gladsom cheer
Till all before our God at length
In Sion do appear.
8
Lord God of Hoasts hear now my praier,
30
O Jacobs God give ear,
9
Thou God our shield look on the face
Of thy anointed dear.
10
For one day in thy Courts to be
Is better, and more blest
35
Then in the joyes of Vanity,
A thousand daies at best.
I in the temple of my God
Had rather keep a dore
Then dwell in Tents, and rich abode
40
With Sin for evermore.
For God the Lord both Sun and Shield
Gives grace and glory bright,
No good from them shall be with-held
Whose waies are just and right.
45
11
Lord God of Hoasts that raignst on high,
That man is truly blest,
Who only on thee doth relie,
And in thee only rest.
(Apr. 1648)
Psalm 85
1
Thy Land to favour graciously
Thou hast not Lord been slack,
Thou hast from hard Captivity
Returned Jacob back.
5
2
Th’ iniquity thou didst forgive
That wrought thy people woe,
And all their Sin that did thee grieve
Hast hid where none shall know.
3
Thine anger all thou hadst remov’d,
10
And calmly didst return
From thy a fierce wrath which we had prov’d
Far worse then fire to burn.
4
God of our saving health and peace,
Turn us, and us restore,
15
Thine indignation cause to cease
Toward us, and chide no more.
5
Wilt thou be angry without end,
For ever angry thus?
Wilt thou thy frowning ire extend
20
From age to age on us?
6
Wilt thou not b turn, and hear our voice
And us again b revive,
That so thy people may rejoyce
By thee preserv’d alive.
25
7
Cause us to see thy goodness Lord,
To us thy mercy shew,
Thy saving health to us afford
And life in us renew.
8
And now what God the Lord will speak
30
I will go strait and hear,
For to his people he speaks peace
And to his Saints full dear,
To his dear Saints he will speak peace,
But let them never more
35
Return to folly, but surcease
To trespass as before.
9
Surely to such as do him fear
Salvation is at hand
And glory shall ere long appear
40
To dwell within our Land.
10
Mercy and Truth that long were miss’d
Now joyfully are met;
&nb
sp; Sweet Peace and Righteousness have kiss’d
And hand in hand are set.
45
11
Truth from the earth like to a flowr
Shall bud and blossom then,
And Justice from her heav’nly bowr
Look down on mortal men.
12
The Lord will also then bestow
50
Whatever thing is good;
Our Land shall forth in plenty throw
Her fruits to be our food.
13
Before him Righteousness shall go
His Royal Harbinger,
55
Then c will he come, and not be slow,
His footsteps cannot err.
(Apr. 1648)
* * *
a Heb. The burning heat of thy wrath.
b Heb. Turn to quicken us.
c Heb. He will set his steps to the way.
Psalm 86
1
Thy gracious ear, O Lord, encline,
O hear me 7 thee pray,
For I am poor, and almost pine
With need, and sad decay.
5
2
Preserve my soul, for a I have trod
Thy waies, and love the just;
Save thou thy servant O my God
Who still in thee doth trust.
3
Pitty me Lord for daily thee
10
I call; 4 O make rejoyce
Thy Servants Soul; for Lord to thee
I lift my soul and voice,
5
For thou art good, thou Lord art prone
To pardon, thou to all
15
Art full of mercy, thou alone
To them that on thee call.
6
Unto my supplication Lord
Give ear, and to the crie
Of my incessant praiers afford
20
Thy hearing graciously.
7
I in the day of my distress
Will call on thee for aid;
For thou wilt grant me free access
And answer, what I pray’d.