A Psalm of David.

8,6,8,6

^1O Lord, I unto thee do cry,

do thou make haste to me,

And give an ear unto my voice,

when I cry unto thee.

^2As incense let my prayer be

directed in thine eyes;

And the uplifting of my hands

as th' ev ning sacrifice.

^3Set, Lord, a watch before my mouth,

keep of my lips the door.

^4My heart incline thou not unto

the ills I should abhor,

To practise wicked works with men

that work iniquity;

And with their delicates my taste

let me not satisfy.

^5Let him that righteous is me smite,

it shall a kindness be;

Let him reprove, I shall it count

a precious oil to me:

Such smiting shall not break my head;

for yet the time shall fall,

When I in their calamities

to God pray for them shall.

^6When as their judges down shall be

in stony places cast,

Then shall they hear my words; for they

shall sweet be to their taste.

^7About the grave's devouring mouth

our bones are scatter'd round,

As wood which men do cut and cleave

lies scatter'd on the ground.

^8But unto thee, O God the Lord,

mine eyes uplifted be:

My soul do not leave destitute;

my trust is set on thee.

^9Lord, keep me safely from the snares

which they for me prepare;

And from the subtile gins of them

that wicked workers are.

^10Let workers of iniquity

into their own nets fall,

Whilst I do, by thine help, escape

the danger of them all.