TRANSLATIONS
��PSALM I
(1653)
BLEST is the man who hath not walked
astray
In counsel of the wicked, and i' the way Of sinners hath not stood, and in the seat Of scorners hath not sat; but in the great Jehovah's Law is ever his delight, And in his law he studies day and night. He shall be as a tree which planted grows By watery streams, and in his season
knows To yield his fruit; and his leaf shall not
fall; And what he takes in hand shall prosper
all. 10
Not so the wicked; but, as chaff which
fanned The wind drives, so the wicked shall not
stand
In judgment, or abide their trial then, Nor sinners in the assembly of just men. For the Lord knows the upright way of the
just, And the way of bad men to ruin must.
��PSALM II (Augusts, 1653 Terzetti)
WHY do the Gentiles tumult, and the na- tions
Muse a vain thing, the kings of the earth upstand
With power, and princes in their congre- gations
Lay deep their plots together through each land
Against the Lord and his Messiah dear ?
"Let us break off," say they, "by
strength of hand,
Their bonds, and cast from us, no more to wear,
Their twisted cords." He who in Hea- ven doth dwell
Shall laugh; the Lord shall scoff them,
then severe
Speak to them in his wrath, and in his fell
And fierce ire trouble them. " But I," saith he,
��"Anointed have my King (though ye
rebel)
On Sion my holy hill." A firm decree I will declare: the Lord to me hath said, " Thou art my Son ; I have begotten
thee This day; ask of me, and the grant is
made:
As thy possession I on thee bestow The Heathen, and, as thy conquest to be
swayed, Earth's utmost bounds: them shalt thou
bring full low
With iron sceptre bruised, and them dis- perse 20 Like to a potter's vessel shivered so." And now be wise at length, ye kings
averse ; Be taught, ye judges of the earth; with
fear
Jehovah serve, and let your joy converse With trembling; kiss the Son, lest he ap- pear
In anger, and ye perish in the way, If once his wrath take fire, like fuel
sere. Happy all those who have in him their stay.
��PSALM III
(August 9, 1653) When he fled from Absalom
LORD, how many are my foes !
How many those That in arms against me rise !
Many are they
That of my life distrustfully thus say, " No help for him in God there lies." But thou, Lord, art my shield, my glory;
Thee, through my story, The exalter of my head I count:
Aloud I cried 10
Unto Jehovah; he full soon replied, And heard me from his holy mount. I lay and slept; I waked again:
For my sustain Was the Lord. Of many millions
The populous rout
I fear not, though, encamping round about, They pitch against me their pavilions. Rise, Lord ; save me, my God ! for thou
Hast smote ere now 20
On the cheek-bone all my foes,
�� �
