English text
1 Within thy tabernacle, Lord,
Who shall inhabit still?
Or whom wilt thou receive to dwell
In thy most holy hill?
2 The man whose life is uncorrupt,
Whose works are just and straight,
Whose heart doth think the very truth,
And tongue speaks no deceit;
3 That to his neighbour doth no ill,
In body, goods, or name;
Nor willingly doth slanders raise,
Which might impair the same:
4 That in his heart regardeth not
Malicious wicked men;
But those that love and fear the Lord,
He maketh much of them:
5 His oath and all his promises
That keepeth faithfully;
Although he make his cov'nant so
That he doth lose thereby:
6 That putteth not to usury
His money and his coin;
Nor for to hurt the innocent
Doth bribe, nor yet purloin.
7 Whoso doth these things faithfully,
And turneth not therefrom,
Shall never perish in this world,
Nor that which is to come.
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Metrical 'New Version' (Tate & Brady)
English text
1 Lord, who's the happy man that may
To thy blest courts repair?
Not, stranger-like, to visit them,
But to inhabit there?
2 'Tis he, whose ev'ry thought and deed
By rules of virtue moves;
Whose gen'rous tongue disdains to speak
The thing his heart disproves.
3 Who never did a slander forge
His neighbour's fame to wound;
Nor hearken to a false report,
By malice whisper'd round.
4 Who vice in all its pomp and pow'r
Can treat with just neglect;
And piety, though cloth'd in rags.
Religiously respect.
Who to his plighted vows and trust
Has ever firmly stood;
And, though he promise to his loss,
He makes his promise good.
5 Whose soul in usury disdains
His treasure to employ;
Whom no rewards can ever bribe
The guiltless to destroy.
The man, who by this steady course
Has happiness insur'd,
When earth's foundation shakes, shall stand,
By Providence secur'd.
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