The Psalms of Thanksgiving To YAHWEH

11
YAHWEH THOU Hast Directed My Heart

I give thanks unto Thee, 0 YAHWEH,
for by Thine own strength hast You stayed me, 
and hast wafted o'er me Thy kodesh spirit
that I cannot be moved.

You hast braced me for all the battles
that Wickedness wages against me,
and hast let not the havoc dismay me
to break faith with Thee.

You hast set me as in a strong tower
upon a lofty wall, 
founded upon a rock, 
reared on eternal foundations,
whose walls are a proven bulwark
that cannot be shaken
-a tower provided by Thee, 0 my YAHWEH,
for all that would rise as on wings
to the heights of an kodesh resolve. 

You hast brought me into Thy covenant. 
Words flow free on my tongue,
as it were trained by Thee, 
while the Spirit of Havoc stays speechless,
and the reprobate open not their mouth.

Through me You hast kept Thy pledge:
'False lips shall be stricken dumb'.**
All them that challenge me
You makest to stand condemned, distinguishing through me
the right from the wrong.

You knowest the impulse of every act, 
and discernest the purpose of every speech, 
yet, by Thy teaching and truth
You hast directed my heart
that I set my steps straight forward
upon right paths
and walk where Thy presence is
across the stretch of life,
finding upon my path
honor and peace unbounded,
and ending all waywardness for ever.

You knowest also the nature
of this Thy servant,
how that I have not relied
upon the things of the world,
lifting my heart in pride,
vaunting my strength.
No refuge have I in flesh,
nor righteousness in my soul,
that I may be saved from the snare except by Thy pardon.
On Thy mercy alone I rely,
and for Thy grace I hope,
to bring Thy triumph to flower,
to make the shoot to grow,
to find cause for vaunting strength,
for lifting heart.

And You, 0 YAHWEH of mercy,
hast in Thy bounty given me place
among those to whom You art pledged; 
and unto Thy truth will I cling.
You hast chosen me and set me
as a father to them You holdest dear,  
and as a nurse unto them
whom You hast made exemplars of men. 7 
They open their mouths for my words,
like sucklings at the breast,
and like as a babe that plays
on the bosom of its nurse.

You hast raised high my horns
over all that revile me,
and all who wage battle against me
are routed without remnant,
and all that contend with me
are as chaff before the wind; 
and all impiety bows to my sway.
For You, O my YAHWEH, hast holpen my soul 
and raised high my horn.

I am lit with a light sevenfold,
with that same lustre of glory
which You didst create for Thyself. 
For You art unto me as a light eternal  
keeping my feet upon the way.

**1 Psalm 31,18.

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