Sir Philip Sidney. Psalm 3.

THE PSALMS OF DAVID
By Sir Philip Sidney

PSALM III.

Domine, quid multiplici?

I. LORD, how do they encrease
    That hatefull never cease
             To breed my grievous trouble?
    How many ones there be,
    That all against poor me
              Their numbrous strength redouble?

2. Even multitudes be they
             That to my soul do say,
              No help for you remaineth
    In God, on whom you build.
    Yet, Lord, Thou art my shield,
             In Thee my glory raigneth.

3. The Lord lifts vp my head,
    To Him my voyce I spread;
             From holy hill He heard me:
    I layd me down and slept,
    While He me safely kept,
             And safe from sleep I rear'd me.

4. I will not be afraid
    Though legions round be layd,
             Which all against me gather:
    I say no more but this,
    Vp, Lord, now time it is;
             Help me, my God and Father!

5. For Thou, with cruel blowes
    On jaw-bone of my foes,
             My causeless wrongs hast wroken;
    Thou, those men's teeth which byte,
    Venom'd with godless spight,
             Hast in their malice broken.

6. Salvation doth belong
    Unto the Lord most strong;
             For He alone defendeth:
    And on those blessèd same
    Which beare His people's name,
             His blessing He extendeth.

Text source:
Sidney, Philip. The Complete Poems of Sir Philip Sidney. vol. III.
Alexander B. Grosart, Ed. London: Chatto & Windus, 1877. 84-6.

to Works of Sir Philip Sidney