On the Eleventh Psalm

[Contents]On the Eleventh PsalmMerciful God, how fewGood folk remain on earth.Behold, each one in heartIs setting snares for another.But with fine words,And lips honey-sweetThey kiss—and waitTo see how soonTheir brother to his graveWill find his way.But Thou who art Lord aloneShuttest up the evil lips,That great-speaking tongueThat says:—“No trifling thing are we,How glorious shall we showIn intellect and speech.Who is that Lordthat will forbidOur thoughts and words?”Yea, the Lord shall say to Thee“I shall arise, this dayOn their behalf—People of mine in chains,[131]The poor and humble onesThese will I glorify.Little, dumb and slaves are they,Yet on guard about themWill I set my Word.”Like trampled grassShall perish your thoughtsAnd words alike.Like silver, hammered, beaten,Seven times melted o’er the fire,Are thy words, Oh Lord.Scatter these holy words of Thine,O’er all the earth,That Thy childrenlittle and poorMay believe in miracles on earth.Ornament: dove with laurel.[132]

[Contents]On the Eleventh PsalmMerciful God, how fewGood folk remain on earth.Behold, each one in heartIs setting snares for another.But with fine words,And lips honey-sweetThey kiss—and waitTo see how soonTheir brother to his graveWill find his way.But Thou who art Lord aloneShuttest up the evil lips,That great-speaking tongueThat says:—“No trifling thing are we,How glorious shall we showIn intellect and speech.Who is that Lordthat will forbidOur thoughts and words?”Yea, the Lord shall say to Thee“I shall arise, this dayOn their behalf—People of mine in chains,[131]The poor and humble onesThese will I glorify.Little, dumb and slaves are they,Yet on guard about themWill I set my Word.”Like trampled grassShall perish your thoughtsAnd words alike.Like silver, hammered, beaten,Seven times melted o’er the fire,Are thy words, Oh Lord.Scatter these holy words of Thine,O’er all the earth,That Thy childrenlittle and poorMay believe in miracles on earth.Ornament: dove with laurel.[132]

On the Eleventh PsalmMerciful God, how fewGood folk remain on earth.Behold, each one in heartIs setting snares for another.But with fine words,And lips honey-sweetThey kiss—and waitTo see how soonTheir brother to his graveWill find his way.But Thou who art Lord aloneShuttest up the evil lips,That great-speaking tongueThat says:—“No trifling thing are we,How glorious shall we showIn intellect and speech.Who is that Lordthat will forbidOur thoughts and words?”Yea, the Lord shall say to Thee“I shall arise, this dayOn their behalf—People of mine in chains,[131]The poor and humble onesThese will I glorify.Little, dumb and slaves are they,Yet on guard about themWill I set my Word.”Like trampled grassShall perish your thoughtsAnd words alike.Like silver, hammered, beaten,Seven times melted o’er the fire,Are thy words, Oh Lord.Scatter these holy words of Thine,O’er all the earth,That Thy childrenlittle and poorMay believe in miracles on earth.

Merciful God, how fewGood folk remain on earth.Behold, each one in heartIs setting snares for another.But with fine words,And lips honey-sweetThey kiss—and waitTo see how soonTheir brother to his graveWill find his way.But Thou who art Lord aloneShuttest up the evil lips,That great-speaking tongueThat says:—“No trifling thing are we,How glorious shall we showIn intellect and speech.Who is that Lordthat will forbidOur thoughts and words?”Yea, the Lord shall say to Thee“I shall arise, this dayOn their behalf—People of mine in chains,[131]The poor and humble onesThese will I glorify.Little, dumb and slaves are they,Yet on guard about themWill I set my Word.”Like trampled grassShall perish your thoughtsAnd words alike.Like silver, hammered, beaten,Seven times melted o’er the fire,Are thy words, Oh Lord.Scatter these holy words of Thine,O’er all the earth,That Thy childrenlittle and poorMay believe in miracles on earth.

Merciful God, how fewGood folk remain on earth.Behold, each one in heartIs setting snares for another.But with fine words,And lips honey-sweetThey kiss—and waitTo see how soonTheir brother to his graveWill find his way.

Merciful God, how few

Good folk remain on earth.

Behold, each one in heart

Is setting snares for another.

But with fine words,

And lips honey-sweet

They kiss—and wait

To see how soon

Their brother to his grave

Will find his way.

But Thou who art Lord aloneShuttest up the evil lips,That great-speaking tongueThat says:—“No trifling thing are we,How glorious shall we showIn intellect and speech.Who is that Lordthat will forbidOur thoughts and words?”

But Thou who art Lord alone

Shuttest up the evil lips,

That great-speaking tongue

That says:—

“No trifling thing are we,

How glorious shall we show

In intellect and speech.

Who is that Lord

that will forbid

Our thoughts and words?”

Yea, the Lord shall say to Thee“I shall arise, this dayOn their behalf—People of mine in chains,[131]The poor and humble onesThese will I glorify.Little, dumb and slaves are they,Yet on guard about themWill I set my Word.”

Yea, the Lord shall say to Thee

“I shall arise, this day

On their behalf—

People of mine in chains,[131]

The poor and humble ones

These will I glorify.

Little, dumb and slaves are they,

Yet on guard about them

Will I set my Word.”

Like trampled grassShall perish your thoughtsAnd words alike.

Like trampled grass

Shall perish your thoughts

And words alike.

Like silver, hammered, beaten,Seven times melted o’er the fire,Are thy words, Oh Lord.Scatter these holy words of Thine,O’er all the earth,That Thy childrenlittle and poorMay believe in miracles on earth.

Like silver, hammered, beaten,

Seven times melted o’er the fire,

Are thy words, Oh Lord.

Scatter these holy words of Thine,

O’er all the earth,

That Thy children

little and poor

May believe in miracles on earth.

Ornament: dove with laurel.[132]

Ornament: dove with laurel.

[132]


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