1 My soul, praise thou the Lord always,
my God I will confess;
While breath and life prolong my days
my tongue no time shall cease.

2 Trust not in worldly princes then,
though they abound in wealth;
Nor in the sons of mortal men,
in whom there is no health.

3 For why? Their breath doth soon depart,
to earth anon they fall,
And then the counsels of their heart
decay and perish all.

4 Blessèd and happy are all they
whom Jacob's God doth aid,
And he whose hope doth not decay,
but on the Lord is staid:

5 Who made the earth and waters deep,
the heav'ns most high withal;
Who doth his word and promise keep
in truth, and ever shall.

6 With right always doth he proceed
for such as suffer wrong,
The poor and hungry he doth feed,
and loose the fetters strong.

7 The Lord doth send the blind their sight,
the lame to limbs restore;
He loveth all that are upright,
and just men evermore:

8 He doth defend the fatherless,
and strangers sad in heart,
He frees the widow from distress,
and ill men's ways subvert,

9 The Lord thy God eternally,
O Zion, still shall reign,
In time of all posterity
for ever to remain.