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THE EIGHTH PSALM PARAPHRASED, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: O lord, our governor, whose potent sway
Last Line: How great is thy adored name.
Subject(s): Bible


1. O LORD, our Governor, whose potent sway
All pow'rs in Heav'n and Earth obey,
Throughout the spacious Earth's extended frame
How great is thy adored Name!
Thy glories thou hast seated, Lord, on high,
Above the Empirean Sky.
2. Out of the mouths of infants, newly come
From the dark closet of the womb,
Thou hast ordained pow'rful Truth to rise,
To baffle all thine enemies;
That thou the furious rage might'st calm agen,
Of bloody and revengeful men.
3. When on thy glorious Heav'ns I reflect,
Thy work, almighty Architect,
The changing Moon and Stars that thou hast made
T'illuminate night's sable shade;
4. Oh! what is man, think I, that Heaven's King
Should mind so poor a wretched thing;
Or Man's frail offspring, that Almighty God
Should stoop to visit his abode?
5. For thou createdst him but one degree
Below the Heav'nly Hierarchy
Of bless'd and happy Angels, and didst crown
Frail dust with glory and renown.
6. Over the works of thy Almighty hand
Thou giv'st him absolute command,
And all the rest that thou hast made
Under his feet hast subject laid;
7. All sheep, and oxen, and the wilder breed
Of beasts that on their fellows feed;
8. The Air's inhabitants, and scaly brood,
That live and wanton in the Flood,
And whatsoe'er does either swim or creep
Through th' investigable Deep:
9. Throughout the spacious Earth's extended frame
How great is thy adored Name.





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