Classic Poem

Hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my request.
Complish my boon, answer to my desire
Not by desert but for thine own behest
In whose firm truth thou promised mine empire
To stand stable. And after thy justice
Perform, O Lord, the thing that I require;
But not of law after the form and guise
To enter judgement with thy thrall bondslave
To plead his right, for in such manner wise
Before thy sight no man his right shall save.
For of myself, lo, this my righteousness,
By scourge and whip and pricking spurs I have
Scant risen up, such is my beastliness.
For that my en'my hath pursued my life
And in the dust hath foiled my lustiness,
For that in herns to flee his rage so rife
He hath me forced as dead to hide my head,
And for because within myself at strife
My heart and sprite with all my force were fled,
I had recourse to times that have been past
And did remember thy deeds in all my dread
And did peruse thy works that ever last;
Whereby I knew above those wonders all
Thy mercies were. Then lift I up in haste
My hands to thee. My soul to thee did call
Like barren soil for moisture of thy grace.
Haste to my help, O Lord, afore I fall,
For sure I feel my sprite doth faint apace.
Turn not thy face from me, that I be laid
In count of them that headling down do pass
Into the pit. Shew me betimes thine aid
For on thy grace I wholly do depend.
And in thy hand since all my health is staid
Do me to know what way thou wolt I bend
For unto thee I have raised up my mind.
Rid me, O Lord, from that that do intend
My foes to me, for I have me assigned
Alway within thy secret protection.
Teach me thy will that I by thee may find
The way to work the same in affection.
For thou, my God, thy blessed upright sprite
In land of truth shall be my direction.
Thou for thy name, Lord, shalt revive my sprite
Within the right that I receive by thee,
Whereby my life of danger shall be quit.
Thou hast fordone their great iniquity
That vexed my soul. Thou shalt also confound
My foes, O Lord, for thy benignity,
For thine am I, thy servant ay most bound.