The whole Psalter translated into English Metre :: :: University of Virginia Library

The whole Psalter translated into English Metre

which contayneth an hundreth and fifty Psalmes

Parker, Matthew (1504-1575)

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The first Quinquagene.

To the Reader.

Of the vertue of Psalmes.

Henrie Haward Earle of Surrie in his Ecclesiastes.

Here beginneth the second booke of Psalmes.

The Seconde Quinquagene of Dauids Psalter, translated into Englishe Metre.

Here beginneth the thirde Booke of Psalmes.

Psalme. LXXIII.

Here beginneth the fourth Booke of Psalmes.

The third and last Quinquagene of Dauids Psalter, translated into Englishe Metre.

Here beginneth the fifth Booke of Psalmes.

Psalme. CVII.

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Certayne verses of the sayd Psalme otherwise translated.

Gloria Patri for diuers Metres.

Te Deum.

The song of the three Children.

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Psalme. LXXIII.

The Argument.

This musing Psalme: by Dauid made: to Asaph put to sing,
Doth shew the endes of good and bad: what vice what vertue bringth.

Quam bonus Israel Deus.

1

O good is God: to Israell,
To them of perfect hart:
Though wycked men: haue here the sweete,
And good men feele the smart.

2

But yet my feete: wel nye were gone: to dout of godly wayes,
My steps of lyfe: almost were slipt: to renne in lyke astrayes.

3

For why I fret: all whote in zeale: to note how sinners were:
In peace wyth blisse: all whole beset: the good men all in feare.

4

For they of death: feele no distresse: nor much it doth them fret,
Theyr strength is fresh: in euery part: well fed and fat they iet.

Yet good is God to Israell,
To them of perfect hart:
Though wycked men: haue here the sweete,
And good men feele the smart.

5

Misfortune none: befalth these men: no labour pressth them hard:
They haue no scourge: as other men: all welth is theyr reward.

6

Of this ariseth: their hawty pride: wherin they vaunt so stout:
All clad they bee: wyth wyckednes: and wrong euen round about.

203

7

With fatnes foule: theyr eyes be sweld: their gullets feele no thurst
Their paunches ful: their helth so quart: theyr hartes excede in lust

Yet good is God to Israell,
To them of perfect hart:
Though wycked men: haue here the sweete,
And good men feele the smart.

8

And others they: corrupt with talke: they speake all that is nought
They do blaspheme: euen God aboue: such rage dewraith their thought.

9

For vp to heauen: they cast their mouth: Gods prouidēce to scorne
Their tong in earth: must beare the rule: by them ye poore is lorne.

10

This makth all folke: to fall to them: to sue their wealth vnto:
Their water cups: to drinke in part: to ease theyr want and wo.

Yet good is God: to Israell,
To them of perfect hart:
Though wycked men: haue here the sweete,
And good men feele the smart.

11

The people mad: tush say they all: do God such matters know?
Hath God aboue: respect or care: of thinges so done below?

12

For lo say they: these wycked men: they prosper well in all:
The world is theirs: as ioly men: all goodes to them befall.

13

And some of them: sayd thus agayne: my hart I clensd in vayne:
To purge my lyfe: from suttle art: I count it folish payne.

Yet good is God to Israell,
To them of perfect hart:
Though wycked men: haue here the sweete,
And good men feele the smart.

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14

Thus vext I went: afflict in hart: all day by wycked sect:
In early morne: sore scourged I was: to haue this case detect.

15

I had almost: sayd euen as they: lo then I had bene wood:
For so should I: haue euill reproued: thy flocke of children good.

16

I sought and sought: to search it out: O Lord what this might be:
But thou O God: so secret wart: it was to hard for me.

Yet good is God: to Israell,
To them of perfect hart:
Though wycked men: haue here the sweete,
And good men feele the smart.

17

I doubted still: tyll God I sought: in hys most saintly place:
To note hys wont: in all their endes: at last of all theyr race.

18

I spied thou setst: theyr slipper state: in brittle goodes vnclere:
Thou cast thē down: on hed to nought: yea when most hie they were

19

O how they quayld: most sodenly: cast down and perisht quyte?
For their misdeedes: & wyckednes: to nought brought down in sight.

Then good is God to Israell,
To them of perfect hart:
Though wycked men: haue here the sweete,
And good men feele the smart.

20

As dreames so vayne: do vanyshe quite: from man yt wakth frō slepe
Theyr image Lord: so shalt thou stroy: thy citie not to kepe.

21

Myne inward ghost: sore vext it was: before this case I knew:
It pearst my raynes: and rootes of hart: to note their workes vntrue

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22

So fond I was: and ignorant: in secret workes of thee:
To brute beast lyke: all voyde of wit: so dull thy trade to see.

For good thou art: to Israell,
To them of perfect hart:
Though wycked men: haue here the sweete,
And good men feele the smart.

23

But yet O lord: though thus I thought: I was held vp by thee:
My right hand yet: thou heldst so vp: that far I dyd not flee.

24

As me thou taughtst: so hence thou wylt: teach me thy secret wil,
And after that: with glory bright: my soule with ioy to fill.

25

For whome haue I: in heauen but thee: to loue or trust aright:
Or who in earth: can health impart: but thou my harts delight.

All good thou art to Israell,
To them of perfect hart:
Though wycked men: haue here the sweete,
And good men feele the smart.

26

Though flesh & hart: here fayled me: thou didst not me forsake:
Thou art O God: my strength of hart: my part thou art to take.

27

For lo who far: from thee do stray: they perishe shall no doubt:
A whoryng who: eke renne fro thee: thou driuest them al to nought

28

But good for me: by God to hold: in thee O God to trust:
To tell thyne actes: how good thou art: in Syon gate full iust.

O good is God to Israell,
To them of perfect hart:
Though wycked men: haue here the sweete,
And good men feele the smart.