The whole Psalter translated into English Metre | ||
263
Psalme. XCIIII.
The Argument.
The poore opprest: doth helpe implore,agaynst proud iudges myght:
As Christ and hie: long heretofore,
be paternes good in sight.
1
O God and Lord: reuenger ryght,of sinne reuenger God:
Now shew thy selfe: declare thy might,
make hast to shake thy rod.
2
Be thou set vp: in maiesty,thou iudge of all the land:
Requite the proud: accordingly,
and let them feele thy hand.
3
How long O Lord: these wycked men,how long tryumphe shall they?
Thy people thus: to ouer renne,
wythout both stop and stay.
264
4
They blatter out: euen what they list,sore wordes they be and proude:
All wycked ympes: wyll not desist,
to vaunt and boast aloude.
5
Thy people Lord: full sore they slyte,thyne heritage they vexe:
Their poore estates: wyth wronges they smyte
and threates therto annexe.
6
The widow lo: the straunger eke,they murther craftely:
The fatherlesse: they quell alyke,
though deare to thee they ligh.
7
Theyr mouthes thus speake: as hartes deuise,tush God seeth nought of this:
Nor Iacobs God: shall thys aduise,
in thys he is remysse.
8
Ye doltes of all: most brute to see,betyme yet vnderstand:
When prudent wise: when will ye bee?
ye fooles I say so fond.
9
Can he be deafe: which made the eare,how harken should not hee?
Who made the eye: can ye hym bleare?
that he should nothyng see?
10
Or he that checkes: the heathen els,shall he not you reproue?
And he that man: all wisdom tels,
shall he not you remoue?
265
11
The Lord doth know: the thoughtes of man,to be both fond and vayne:
Your open wronges: how can they than,
escape deserued payne?
12
Then happy is: that man and blest,whom thou doost chastise here:
And whom by loue: in law thou teachest,
O blessed Lord most deare.
13
To make hym sit: wyth patience,in dreadfull dayes at rest:
Whyle that to men: of violence,
theyr pit be digd and drest.
14
For God no dout: wyll not reiect,hys people them to fayle:
Nor yet forsake: hys lot elect,
to make them long to wayle.
15
Untill that ryght: be turnd agayne,to dome, as iust it ought:
And follow it: shall they full fayne,
whose harte hath iustice sought.
16
O who wyll vp: for me to stand,agaynst malignant spies?
Or wyll wyth me: conioyne hys hand,
at wycked men to ryse?
17
If soone the Lord: had sent none ayde,to me in myne vnrest:
It had not faylde: my soule dismayde,
had dwelt in graue opprest.
266
18
But when I sayd: my foote doth reele,to note the worldes disdayne:
Then helpe O Lord: thou didst me deale,
thy grace dyd me sustayne.
19
As carefull thoughtes: in store dyd ryse,when thus my hart dyd boyle:
Thy comfort so: dyd me repryse,
my soule to scape the foyle.
20
Shall wycked seates: of tyranny,cleaue fast to thee as thence:
That thou should fayne: to scourge therby,
the poore by lawes pretence?
21
They cloyne in one: in companies,agaynst the iust mans lyfe:
The giltles soule: of wycked vyce,
they whole condemne in stryfe.
22
The Lord yet was: to me in stresse,a refuge strong of fence:
My God was rocke: as inaccesse,
my trust and confidence.
23
He shall them quite: their crafty guiles,as they dyd others cloy:
God shall them slea: for all theyr wyles,
our Lord shall them destroy.
The whole Psalter translated into English Metre | ||