The Psalms of Thanksgiving
2
YAHWEH THOU Art My Strength
I give thanks
unto Thee, O YAHWEH,
for Thou art my
strength and my stronghold,
and Thou hast
delivered my soul
from all works of
unrighteousness.
For Thou
hast
put truth in my heart
and righteousness
in my spirit,
along with all
gifts of Thy wisdom;
and hast crushed
the loins of them
that have risen
up against me.
Thou bringest me
cheer, O YAHWEH,
amid the sorrow
of mourning,
words of peace
amid havoc,
stoutness of
heart when I faint,
fortitude in the
face of affliction.
Thou hast given
free flow of speech
to my stammering
lips;
stayed my
drooping spirit
with vigor and
strength;
made my feet to
stand firm
when they stood
where wickedness reigns.
Albeit unto
transgressors
I am but a symbol
of weakness,
yet unto them
that repent
I am a source of
healing;
prudence to the
unwary,
temperance to the
rash.
Thou hast made me
a reproach and a derision
to them that live
by deceit,
but a symbol of
truth and understanding
to all whose way
is straight.
A laughing-stock
I am
in the eyes of
the wicked,
a slander on the
lips of the unbridled;
scoffers gnash
their teeth.
A song am I unto
transgressors,
and the hordes of
the wicked rage against me;
like ocean gales
they storm
which,
when their
billows rage,
cast up mire and
dirt
Yet, Thou hast
set me as a banner
in the vanguard
of Righteousness,
as one who
interprets with knowledge
deep, mysterious
things;
as a touchstone
for them that seek the truth,
a standard for
them that love correction.
To them that
preach misguidance
I am but a man of
strife;
but to them that
see straight,
a very symbol
of peace.
To them that
pursue delusion
I am but a gust
of zeal;
men that live by
deceit
roar against me
like the roar of many waters.
Naught is there
in their thoughts
save mischievous
designs.
When, opening the
fount of knowledge
to all that have
understanding,
Thou hast set a
man's life to rights
by the words of
my mouth,
and hast taught
unto him Thy lesson,
and put
understanding in his heart
-they thrust him
back into the pit.
In place of these
Thy gifts
they offer a
witless folk-
stammering lips
and barbarous tongue,
that, wandering
astray,
they rush
headlong to their doom.
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