Psalm 45

Melita

A noble theme my heart it stirs
As for the king I words recite;
My tongue a pen that now in verse
With skill conveys the things I write.
You hold midst men the highest place,
Your lips anointed with true grace.

For God has blessed you and forev'r.
Come, gird your sword upon your side,
O mighty one; great splendour wear,
Be clothed in majesty to ride,
Be for the truth victorious,
For meekness too and righteousness.

Deeds awesome with your right hand show.
Let your sharp arrows pierce the heart
Of each who is the Great King’s foe;
Let nations fall beneath your feet.
Your throne, O God, will always last;
Your kingdom's sceptre - sceptre just.

You love what’s righteous, hate what’s bad;
So God, your God, has made you Lord.
Above each peer, each one you had,
The oil of joy upon you poured.
All of your robes they fragrant are -
With aloes, myrrh and cassia.

From palaces of ivory
The sound of strings it brings you mirth.
Honoured by you we often see
Daughters of kings, of royal birth;
The Royal Bride’s at your right hand
In gold from Ophir’s distant land.

Give ear, O daughter, hark, recall:
Your father's house no thought accord.
How does your charm the king enthral;
Him honour, for he is your Lord.
Tyre's daughter will with gifts embrace
And men of wealth your favour chase.

Within her room the princess shines;
In rich embroidered clothes they bring,
In woven gown with gold designs,
Into the presence of the king;
Her virgin friends then follow too
As all of them are brought to you.

With joy they in his palace stand.
Your fathers by your sons replaced;
They'll princes be throughout the land.
Your mem'ry I'll perpetuate
On down the generations all;
Forever praised by nations all.

Psalm 22b

Melita

Psalm 22:15-31

My strength is dried like hardened clay,
My tongue is stuck betwen my jaws.
Down in the dust of death I lay.
A pack of dogs around me gnaws;
A band of evil men surrounds,
They've pierced my feet and pierced my hands.

I count my bones, I cannot hide,
The people gloat at me and stare.
My clothes among them they divide,
By casting lots decide their share.
But you, O Lord, don't hide away,
My strength come quickly, help, I pray.

My life deliver from the sword,
From pow'rful dogs my dear life free,
Save from the horns of oxen wild
And from the lions' mouths save me;
Your name to brothers I'll declare
Where they are found, I'll praise you there.

All you who fear the Lord, him praise!
Bow Jacob's seed, fear Israel's son;
He'd not disdain, he'd not despise
The anguish of the suff'ring one;
He would not hide his face away,
He'd hear him when for help he'd pray.

My theme for praise it comes from you
When the assembly great is met;
Where God is feared, to vows I'm true,
The poor they eat, they are content;
They who the Lord seek, him adore,
May your hearts live forevermore!

Earth's farthest ends they will recall
And to the Lord they'll all return,
The families of the nations all
Bow down to him as they all turn.
For with the Lord vast pow'r remains
Over the nations all he reigns.

The rich of earth all feast and bow;
Bound for the dust, him kneel toward,
To stay alive they don't know how.
A seed will serve, heirs hear the Lord.
His righteousness they will make known,
To those unborn - what he has done.

Psalm 22a

Melita

Psalm 22:1-14

My God, my God, O why have you,
In my distress, forsaken me?
And why so far from saving too
Far from my groans, far from my plea?
My God by day I cry in vain,
By night, I cry and cry again.

Yet you're enthroned the Holiest;
The praise of Is-ra-el are you.
In you our fathers put their trust;
They trusted and deliverance knew.
To you they cried; salvation came;
In you they trusted without shame.

A worm and not a man am I,
By men I'm scorned, by them despised.
All those who see me, mocking cry,
They hurl their insults, shake their heads,
'The Lord's his trust; so let Him fight,
The Lord save him; he's his delight.'

Yet you brought me out of the womb,
You gave me faith on mother's breast.
You've been my God from mother's womb,
From birth on you I have been cast.
Be not far off, for trouble's nigh,
There's none on whom I can rely.

Bulls me surround, strong bulls round me.
The roaring lions tear their prey,
They open wide their mouths 'gainst me.
Like water I am poured away.
Bones out of joint, my heart is wax,
It melts away at these attacks

Psalm 6

Melita

O Lord in wrath rebuke me not,
Nor in your anger chasten me.
Show mercy, Lord, for I am faint;
Lord heal my bones from agony.
My soul's affliction don't prolong,
How long, O Lord; O Lord, how long?

Return, O Lord, make me anew;
Through your unfailing love, O save.
A dead man won't remember you,
Who gives you praises from the grave?
Worn out from groaning, I can't sleep,
All night I flood my bed and weep.

All night my couch with tears I soak
Because of these my heavy woes.
My eyes with sorrow they grow weak;
They fail because of all my foes.
All who do evil, leave this place,
The Lord has heard my weeping cries.

The Lord has heard my cry for grace;
The Lord accepts my prayers that rise.
All who oppose me he'll disgrace,
They'll be dismayed who me despise;
In sudden shame they're turned away.
Amen. So may it be, I say.