Classic Poem

Thy mercy, Lord, Lord now thy mercy show
On thee I lie
To thee I fly
Hide me, hive me as thine own,
Till these blasts be overblown,
Which now do fiercely blow.

To the highest God I will erect my cry,
Who quickly shall
Dispatch this all.
He shall from Heaven send
From disgrace me to defence,
His love and verity.

My soul encaged lies with lions' brood,
Villains whose hands
Are fiery brands,
Teeth more sharp than shaft or spear,
Tongues far better edge do bear
Than swords to shed my blood.

As high as highest heav'n can give thee place,
O Lord ascend,
And thence extend
With most bright, most glorious show,
Over all the earth below
The sun-beams of thy face.

Me to entangle, ev'ry way I go,
Their trap and net
Is ready set.
Holes they dig, but their own holes
Pitfalls make for their own souls:
So Lord, O serve them so.

My heart prepar'd, prepared is my heart
To spread thy praise
With tuned lays:
Wake my tongue, my lute awake,
Thou my harp the consort make,
Myself will bear a part.

My self when first the morning shall appear,
With voice and string
So will thee sing:
That this earthly globe, and all
Treading on this earthly ball,
My praising notes shall hear.

For God, my only God, thy gracious love
Is mounted far
Above each star,
Thy unchanged verity
Heav'nly wings do lift as high
As clouds have room to move.

As high as highest heav'n can give thee place
O Lord ascend
And thence extend
With most bright, most glorious show
Over all the earth below
The sun-beams of thy face.