1 Lord, hast been our sure defence,
our place of ease and rest:
In all times past, yea so long since,
as cannot be exprest.
2 Ere there was made mountaine or hill,
the earth and world abroad:
From age to age, and alwaies still
for ever thou art God.
3 Thou grindest man through grief and paine
to dust or clay, and then,
And then thou saist againe returne,
againe ye sonnes of men.
4 The lasting of a thousand yeares,
what is it in thy sight?
As yesterday it doth appeare,
or as a watch by night.
5 So soone as thou dost scatter them,
then is their life and trade
All as asleepe, and like the grasse,
whose beauty soon doth fade.
6 Which in the morning shines full bright
but fadeth by and by:
And is cut down ere it be night,
all withered, dead, and drie.
7 For through thine anger we consume,
our might is much decaid:
And of thy fervent wrath and fume
we are full sore afraid.
8 The wicked works that we have wrought
thou setst before thine eye:
Our privy faults, yea, eke our thoughts
thy countenance doth spie.
9 For through thy wrath our daies do wast,
thereof doth nought remaine:
Our yeares consume as words or blsts,
and are not cal'd againe.
10 Our time is threescore yeares and ten,
That we do live on mold:
If one see fourscore, surely then,
we count him wondrous old.
The second Part:
11 Yet of this time the strength and chief
the which we count upon,
Is nothing els but painefull griefe,
and we as blasts are gone.
12 Who once doth know what strength is there
what might thine anger hath:
Or in his heart who doth thee feare
according to thy wrath?
13 Instruct us Lord to know and try,
how long our daies remaine:
That then we may our hearts apply,
true wisdome to attaine.
14 Returne, O Lord, how long wilt thou
forth on thy wrath proceed?
Shew favour to thy servants now,
and help them at their need.
15 Refresh us with thy mercy soone,
then shall we joyful be,
All times so long as life doth last,
in heart rejoyce will we.
16 As thou hast plagued us before,
now also make us glad:
And for the yeares wherein full sore
affliction we have had.
17 O let thy work and power appeare,
and on thy servants light:
And shew unto thy children deare,
thy glory and thy might.
18 Lord, let thy grace and glory stand
on us thy servants thus:
Confirme the works we take in hand,
Lord prosper them to us.
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