hou wast, O God, and Thou wast blessed
Before the world began;
Of Thine eternity possessed
Before time’s glass did run.

Thou needest none Thy praise to sing
As if Thy joy could fade;
Couldst Thou have needed anything
That couldst have nothing made.

Thou spoke, and heaven and earth appeared,
And answered to Thy call;
As if their Maker’s voice they heard,
Which is the creature’s all.

Thou spoke the word, most mighty Lord,
Thy word went forth with speed;
Thy will, O Lord, it was Thy word,
Thy word it was Thy deed.

Thou brought forth Adam from the ground,
And Eve out of his side;
Thy blessing made the earth abound
With these two multiplied.

Those three great leaves – heaven, sea, and land –
Thy name in figures show,
Brutes feel the bounty of Thy hand,
But I my Maker know.

Should not I here Thy servant be,
Whose creatures serve me here?
My Lord, whom should I fear but Thee,
Who am Thy creatures’ fear?

To whom, Lord, should I sing but Thee,
The Maker of my tongue?
Lo, other lords would seize on me,
But I to Thee belong.

As waters haste unto their sea,
And earth unto its earth;
So let my soul return to Thee,
From whom it had its birth.

But, ah! I’m fallen in the night,
And cannot come to Thee;
Yet speak the Word, let there be light,
It shall enlighten me.

And let Thy Word, most mighty Lord,
Thy fallen creature raise;
Oh make me o’er again, and I
Shall sing my Maker’s praise.

—from Worthy Is the Lamb (Soli Deo Gloria, 2004).

1 Lorde, thou hast bene fauourable vnto thy land: thou hast brought againe the captiuitie of Iaakob.
2 Thou hast forgiuen the iniquitie of thy people, and couered all their sinnes. Selah.
3 Thou hast withdrawen all thine anger, and hast turned backe fro the fiercenes of thy wrath.
4 Turne vs, O God of our saluation, and release thine anger toward vs.
5 Wilt thou be angry with vs for euer? and wilt thou prolong thy wrath from one generation to another?
6 Wilt thou not turne againe & quicken vs, that thy people may reioyce in thee?
7 Shew vs thy mercie, O Lord, and graunt vs thy saluation.
8 I will hearken what the Lord God will say: for he will speake peace vnto his people, and to his Saintes, that they turne not againe to follie.
9 Surely his saluation is neere to them that feare him, that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercie and trueth shall meete: righteousnes and peace shall kisse one another.
11 Trueth shall bud out of the earth, and righteousnes shall looke downe from heauen.
12 Yea, the Lord shall giue good things, and our land shall giue her increase.
13 Righteousnesse shall go before him, and shall set her steps in the way.