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Psalms 63

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[1]David's thirst after God's service in his sanctuary: [4]his manner of blessing God: [9]his confidence of the destruction of his enemies, and of his own rejoicing.

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

1. O GOD, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

2. To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

3. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

4. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

5. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

6. When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

7. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

8. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

9. But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.

10. They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.

11. But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.

Metrical version

Psalm 63

C.M. Jackson

Lord, thee my God, I'll early seek:
my soul doth thirst for thee;
My flesh longs in a dry parched land,
wherein no waters be:

That I thy power may behold,
and brightness of thy face,
As I have seen thee heretofore
within thy holy place.

Since better is thy love than life,
my lips thee praise shall give.
I in thy name will lift my hands,
and bless thee while I live.

Ev'n as with marrow and with fat
my soul shall filled be;
Then shall my mouth with joyful lips
sing praises unto thee:

When I do thee upon my bed
remember with delight,
And when on thee I meditate
in watches of the night.

In shadow of thy wings I'll joy,
for thou mine help hast been.
My soul thee follows hard; and me
thy right hand doth sustain.

Who seek my soul to spill shall sink
down to earth's lowest room.
They by the sword shall be cut off,
and foxes' prey become.

Yet shall the king in God rejoice,
and each one glory shall
That swear by him; but stopped shall be
the mouth of liars all.
This psalm was penned by David, while he hid himself from the fury of Saul, in the wilderness of Judah, 1 Sam. 22:5; or 23:14, 24-25; or 24:1; or, when he fled from Absalom, 2 Sam. 25-26. We have, (1.) His strong faith, working in ardent desires after the most familiar fellowship with God in public ordinances, ver. 1-2. (2.) His superlative estimation of God, issuing in hearty resolutions to be for ever employed in his praise, ver. 3-4. (3.) His heart-ravishing satisfaction in God, amidst secret and fixed meditation on his excellencies and love, ver. 5-6. (4.) His joyful dependence on God, as his Saviour and portion, ver. 7-8. (5.) His holy triumph in God, as his preserver, and the destroyer of his enemies, ver. 9-11.


While I sing these high praises of God, let my soul be strong in the faith, giving glory to God; embracing the promise of himself, and calling all the fulness of the Godhead my own. Let me be all in raptures of divine love, and holy delight; let no guile, no corruption, no carnal care, enervate or damp my inward powers: but let all be opened, be wide stretched to grasp my infinite all - the great I Am.