Lord, from the
ill and froward
man
Give me
deliverance,
And do Thou safe
preserve me from
The man of
violence:
Who
in their heart
mischievous
things
Are meditating
e’er;
And they for war
assembled are
Continually
together.
Much like unto
a serpent’s
tongue
Their tongues
they sharp do
make;
And underneath
their lips there
lies
The poison of a
snake.
Lord, keep me
from the wicked’s
hands,
From violent men
me save;
Who utterly to
overthrow
My goings
purposed have.
The proud for
me a snare have
hid,
And cords; yea,
they a net
Have by the
wayside for me
spread;
They gins for me
have set.
I said unto
the Lord, Thou
art
My God: unto the
cry
Of all my
supplications,
Lord, do Thine
ear apply.
O God the
Lord, Who art the
strength
Of my salvation:
A cov’ring in the
day of war
My head Thou hast
put on.
Unto the
wicked man, O
Lord,
His wishes do not
grant;
Nor further Thou
his ill device,
Lest they
themselves should
vaunt.
As for the
head and chief of
those
About that
compass me,
E’en by the
mischief of their
lips
Let Thou them
covered be.
Let burning
coals upon them
fall,
Them throw in
fiery flame,
And in deep pits,
that they no more
May rise out of
the same.
Let not an
evil speaker be
On earth
establishèd:
Mischief shall
hunt the violent
man,
Till he be ruinèd.
I know God
will
th’afflicted’s
cause
Maintain, and
poor men’s right.
Surely the just
shall praise Thy
Name;
Th’upright dwell
in Thy sight.
