1. O blessed ever be the Lord,who is my strength and might,Who doth instruct my hands to war,my fingers teach to fight.
2. My goodness, fortress, my high tow'r,deliverer, and shield,In whom I trust: who under memy people makes to yield.
3. Lord, what is man, that thou of himdost so much knowledge take?Or son of man, that thou of himso great account dost make?
4. Man is like vanity; his days,as shadows, pass away.
5. Lord, bow thy heav'ns, come down, touch thouthe hills, and smoke shall they.
6. Cast forth thy lightning, scatter them;thine arrows shoot, them rout.
7. Thine hand send from above, me save;from great depths draw me out;And from the hand of children strange,
8. Whose mouth speaks vanity;And their right hand is a right handthat works deceitfully.
9. A new song I to thee will sing,Lord, on a psaltery;I on a ten-string'd instrumentwill praises sing to thee.
10. Ev'n he it is that unto kingssalvation doth send;Who his own servant David dothfrom hurtful sword defend.
11. O free me from strange children's hand,whose mouth speaks vanity;And their right hand a right hand isthat works deceitfully.
12. That, as the plants, our sons may bein youth grown up that are;Our daughters like to corner-stones,carv'd like a palace fair.