16b. Judica me Dom.

1 Lord plead my cause against my foes,
confound their force and might:
Fight on my part against all those
that seek with me to fight.
2 Lay hand upon the speare and shield,
thy selfe in armour dresse:
Stand up with me to fight the field,
to help me from distresse.

3 Gird on thy sword, and stop the way,
mine enemies to withstand:
That thou unto my soule maist say,
lo I thy help at hand.
4 Confound them with rebuke and blame,
that seek my soule to spill:
Let them turn back and flie with shame,
that think to work me ill.

5 Let them disperse and flie abroad,
as wind doth drive the dust:
And that the Angell of our God
their might away may thrust.
6 Let all their waies be void of light,
and slippery, like to fall:
And send thine Angell with thy might
to persecute them all

7 For why? without my fault have they
in secret set their grin:
And for no cause have dig'd a cave
to take my soul therein
8 When they think least and have no care,
O Lord, destroy them all:
Let them be trapt in their own snare,
and in their mischiefe fall.

9 And let my soule with heart, and voice
in God have joy and wealth:
That in the Lord I may rejoyce,
and in his saving health.
10 And then my bones shall speak and say,
my parts shall all agree:
O Lord though they do seem full gay,
what one is like to thee?

The second Part:

11 Thou dost defend the weak from them
that are both stout and strong
And rid the poore from wicked men,
that spoile and do them wrong
12 My cruell foes against me rise,
to witnesse things untrue,
And to accuse me they devise,
of things I never knew.

13 Where I to them did show good will,
they quit me with disdaine:
That they should pay my good with ill,
my soule doth sore complaine.
14 When they were sick I mourn'd therefore,
and clad my selfe in sack:
With fasting I did faint full sore,
to pray I was not slack.

15 As they had been my brethren deare,
I did my selfe behave:
As one that maketh wofull cheare
about his mother's grave
16 But they in my disease did joy,
did gather on a rout:
Yea abject slaves at me did toy,
with mocks and checks full stout.

17 The belly-gods and flattering traine
that all good things deride:
At me do grin with great disdaine,
and pluck their mouthes aside
18 Lord, why wilt thou so long forbeare,
why dost thou stay and pause?
O rid my soule, mine onely deare,
out of these Lions clawes

19 And when will I give thanks to thee,
before the Church alwaies;
And where most of the people be,
there will I show thy praise.
20 Let not my foes prevaile on me,
which hate me for no fault:
Nor let them wink or turne their eyes,
that causelesse me assault.

The third Part:

21 Of peace no word they think or say,
their talke is all untrue:
They still consult how to betray
all those that peace ensue.
22 With open mouth they run at me,
they gape, they laught, they fieore:
Well, well, say they, our eye doth see
the thing that we desire.

23 But Lord, thou seest what waoes they take,
cease not my griefs to mend:
Be not farre off nor me forsake,
as men that faile their friend.
24 Awake, arise, and stir abroad,
defend me in my right:
Revenge my cause, my Lord, my God,
and aid me with thy might.

25 According to my righteousnesse,
my Lord God set me free:
And let them not their price expresse,
nor triumph over me.
26 Let not their hearts rejoyce and cry,
there, there, all goeth trim:
Nor give them cause to say on high
we have our will on him.

27 Confound them with rebuke & shame
that joy when I do mourn:
And pay them home with spite & blame,
that brag at me with scorn.
28 Let them be glad and eke rejoyce,
which love mine upright way:
And they all times with heart and voice,
shall praise the Lord, and say,

29 Great is the Lord, and doth excell
for why, he doth delight
To see his servants prosper well,
that is his pleasant sight
30 Wherefore my tongue I will apply,
thy righteousnesse to praise:
Unto the Lord my God will I
sing laud and thanks alwaies.

Text Information
First Line: Lord plead my cause against my foes
Title: Judica me Dom.
Author: J. H.
Language: English
Publication Date: 1640
Scripture:
Notes: Sing this to "The humble suit of the sinner"
Tune Information
(No tune information)



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