Benedic anima mea. 1.
Psalm. Ciii.
T.S.
This is a Psalme most excellent, wherin the Prophet doth prouoke
men and angels, and all creatures to prayse the Lorde for his fatherly
mercyes, and deliuerance of his people from all euils for his prouidence
ouer all thinges and the preseruation of the faithfull.
[The first parte.]
My
soule geue laud vnto the lord
my sprite shall doo the same:
and all the secrets of my hart
praise ye his holy name,
Geue thanks to god for all his gifts,
shew not thy self vnkind
& suffer not his benefites
to slip out of thy mind.
That gaue thee pardon for thy faults,
and thee restored agayne:
For all thy weake and frayle disease,
and healde thee of thy payne,
That did redeme thy life from death,
from whiche thou couldest not flee:
His mercy and compassion bothe,
he did extend to thee.
That filled with goodnes thy desyre,
and did prolong thy youth:
Like as the Egle casteth her bill,
wherby her age renueth.
The Lorde with iustice doth repaye,
all suche as be opprest:
So that their suffrings & their wrongs,
are turned to the best.
his wayes and his commaundements
to Moyses he did shew:
His counsels and his valiant actes,
the Israelites did know.
The Lorde is kinde and mercyfull,
when sinners doo him greue:
The slowest to conceyue a wrath,
and rediest to forgeue.
He chideth not vs contiuually,
though we be full of stryfe:
Nor kepeth our faultes in memory,
for all our sinfull lyfe.
Nor yet according to our sinnes,
the Lorde doth vs regarde,
Nor after our iniquities,
he doth not vs rewarde.
But as the space is wondrous great,
twixt heauen and earth aboue:
So is his goodnes muche more large,
to them that do him loue.
God doth remoue our sinnes from vs,
and our offences all:
As farre as is the sunne rising,
full distant from his fall.
The second part.
And loke what pitte parents deare,
vnto their children beare:
Like pitie beareth the Lorde to suche,
as worship him in feare.
The lord ye made vs knoweth our shape,
our mould and fashion iust:
Howe weake and frayle our nature is,
and how we be but dust.
And how the tyme of mortall men,
is lyke the withering hay:
Or like the floure right fayre in field,
that fadth full sone away.
Whose glosse & beautie stormy windes,
doo vtterly disgrace:
And make that after theyr assaults,
suche blossomes haue no place.
But yet the goodnes of the Lorde,
with his shall euer stand:
Theyr childrens children do receyue,
his righteousnes at hand.
I meane which kepe his couenant,
with all theyr whole desire.
And not forget to doo the thing,
that he doth them require.
The heauens hie are made the seate,
and fotestole of the Lorde:
And by his power imperiall,
he gouerneth all the world.
Ye angels whiche are great in power,
prayse ye and bles the Lorde:
Which to obey and doo his wyll,
immediatly accorde.
Ye noble hostes and ministers,
cease not to laude hym styll:
Which ready are to execute,
hys pleasure and his wyll.
Ye all his workes in euery place,
prayse ye his holy name:
My hart my mynde, and eke my soule,
prayse ye also the same.
