University of Virginia Library


256

Psalme. XCI.

The Argument.

The faythfull man: doth here confesse: that Gods defence is strong:
Against all griefe: that hym can presse: to scape all wo and wrong.

Qui habitat in adiutorio.


1

Who vnder fence: and couert dwelth,
of God that is most hye:
He shall be sure: in shadow well,
By God of heauen to ligh.
No dout of thys: ought man to haue: who proofe therof will make:
For God is strong: vs all to saue: if fayth to hart we take.

2

The iust by fayth: may thus be bolde,
to say to God so iust:
Thou art my hope: my strength and holde,
my God in whom I trust.
I haue no hope: in worldly thyng: that may be sene or felt,
Though things I vse: as nede doth bring: which god for vse hath delt

3

To make the scape: he will not misse,
all crafty hunters snares:
from pestilence: that noysome is,
as far from other cares.
When diuel or mā: hys soule wil spyte: then God wyl helpe hym free
Hys body frayle: shal yet be quyte: from plages how fierce they bee.

4

For vnder wynge: he thee shall hyde,
hys fethers thee to broode:
Hys fayth and truth: shall fence thy side,
as shield and buckler good.

257

As once th'arke: theyr wynges so wyde: the Cherubins dyd splay:
As vseth the henne: her byrdes to stryde: to kepe the kyte away.

5

Thou shalt not neede: to be adrad,
for feares of all the nyght:
No dart so sharpe: shall make thee sad,
that flyeth by day in syght.
No horrors fell: shall so preuayle: to make thy hart agast:
Misfortune none: shall thee assayle: God wyll eye thee so fast.

6

Thou shalt escape: all pestilence,
which walkth in darke to noye:
Of sicknes sore: to haue defence,
that hye at none doth stroye.
No venome bayte: shal thee infect: by diuell or man be layd:
For God to thee: shall it detect: by whom it shall be stayd.

7

Though thousandes fast: to murrein renne
by thee that dwellers bee:
On thy right hand: though thousandes ten,
do fall: thou shalt be free.
Thou nedest not feare: what fortune fall: to all the world beside:
Thou shalt not stand: so casuall: for God shall be thy guyde.

8

Yea both thyne eyes: shall make thee see,
how proud men shall decay:
How faythles impes: shall scourged bee,
for theyr desert I say.
God shall his foes: tread vnder foote: who him & his did hate:
Theyr lies and brags: them shal not boote: with all their cruel state

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9

For thou my God: myne onely trust,
my hope thou art t'endure:
Thou hast my soule: thus made full iust,
thy helpe to haue ryght sure.
Because thou hast: affiance had: in God who dwelth so hye:
He shall kepe thee: from chances bad: and be thy sanctuary.

10

There shall no euill: so chance to thee,
but all shall worke thy wealth:
No plage shall nye: thy dwellyng bee,
to stroy therof the health.
Thou safe shalt dwell: protected well: by God, if hym thou fearst:
From wrathfull men: that be so fell: if fayth to God thou bearst.

11

For he shall geue: hys angels charge,
on thee to cast theyr sight:
To see thy wayes: full set at large,
to walke therin aryght.
Hys angels be thy seruantes prest: thy welth and helth to kepe:
To worke thy rest: to prompt thy brest: thy God in hart to seke.

12

They shall in handes: beare thee alone,
to stay thy hold aloft:
Lest thou shouldst hurt: thy foote at stone,
els mought thou fall full oft.
If God thou fearst: & kepe hys wayes: hys sprite wyll thee preserue
Thou nedest no dout: to walke in strayes: if god thou vowst to serue

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13

The Lyons fierce: and adder slye,
on both them shalt thou go:
Thou shalt tread down: the Lyons frye,
and eke the dragon to.
All venome beasts: shall renne fro thee: they shall serue thee at will
The diuell so stoute: thy fayth shall flee: though he thy soule would spill.

14

Because hys hope: on me he set,
I will hym rid from shame:
I wyll hym lyft: to make hym great,
because he knew my name.
I will sayth God: my helpe hym send: in all hys troublous dayes:
No better cause: make me to bend: then that on me he stayes.

15

When he shall call: and sue to me,
to hym I shall apply:
I will wyth hym: in trouble be,
and ryd hym gloriously.
His trust and fayth: shall not decay: hys loue shall haue reward.
Though here he wepe: from day to day: yet I hys teares regard.

16

Wyth length of dayes: where lyfe shall last
I wyll hym satisfy:
I wyll hym shew: for louyng tast,
my sauyng helth so hye.
Though here opprest: as vyle outcast: the iust for ryght doth wayle:
The greater ioy: sayth God at last: shall chance to hys aduayle.

260

Who vnder fence: and couert dwelth,
of God that is most hye:
He shall be sure: in shadow well,
by God of heauen to ligh.