Psalm 26 T.S.
Words: Sternhold and Hopkins, The Whole Book of Psalms Collected into English Metre
1 Lord, be my judge, and thou shalt see
my paths be right and plain:
I trust in God, and hope that he
with strength will me sustain.
2 Prove me, my God, I thee desire,
my ways to search and try;
As men do prove their gold with fire,
my heart and reins espy.
3 Thy loving-kindness in my sight
I do behold always:
I ever walked in thy truth,
and will do all my days.
4 I do not love to haunt or use
with men whose deeds are vain;
To come in house I do refuse
with the deceitful train.
5 I much abhor the wicked sort,
their deeds I do despise;
I do not once to them resort
that hurtful things devise.
6 My hands I wash, and do proceed
in works to walk upright:
Then to thy altar I make speed,
to offer there in sight;
7 That I may speak and preach the praise
that doth belong to thee;
And so declare how wond'rous ways
thou hast been good to me.
8 O God, thy house I love most dear,
to me it doth excel;
My chief delight is to be near
the place where thou dost dwell.
9 O shut not up my soul with them
in sin that take their fill,
Nor yet my life among those men
that seek much blood to spill:
10 For in their hands much mischief is,
their lives therewith abound;
And nothing else in their right hand
but bribes are to be found.
11 But I resolve in righteousness
my time and days to spend:
Therefore that I may not transgress,
let thy grace me defend.
12 My foot is stayed for all assays,
it standeth well and right:
Therefore to God will I give praise
in all the people's sight.
