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Psalm. Cxxxix.

The Argument.

When Dauid mysreported was: that he would Saul subuert
He thus appeald to God hymself, who knew hys giltles hart.
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1

Domine probasti.

O God thou hast: ful searcht me out,
Thou knowst my harte and reines:
Accused I am: to compasse in,
Both king and realme wyth traynes.

2

My sitting downe: my rising vp: my Actes thou knowest echone
Thou vnderstandst: my thoughts a far: before I thinke them on.

3

My walks thou knowst: my rests & steys: my bed thou goest aboute
Yea al my wayes: thou hast contriued: all sercht by the no doute.

4

No secret word: in all my tonge: so whispered closly in
But thou O Lord: it knowst at whole: although it make no dinne.

5

For why thou me: thy selfe didst frame: behynd, before in forme:
Thou laydst thyne hand: to this my clay: thy hands did me perform

6

This knowledge is: to meruelous: for me to reach I knoow,
To hye and hard: for me to fetch: by hye or yet by lowe.

7

And whether can: I thinke to goe: fro this thy sprite and thought,
From thee in face: how can I flye: or whether shall I flought.

8

If I do clime: to heauen aboue: euen there thou artfull neere:
If so by low: I make my bed: In hell, thou art lo there.

9

If now I take: the morning wings: who spredth her beames so swift
That strayt I cowd: to fordest Sea: remoue my house to shift.

10

Yet there thy hand: shall lede me forth: as pastor guideth his sheepe
thy strong right hand: would me vphold: by prouidence most deepe

11

If eke I say: or thinke at least: that darke shall hide my heade:
Than shall the night: as shining day: be round about me spreade.
401

12

For sure the darke so dark: cannot: endarke thy louely sight:
The night as day: do shine to thee: so darkenes is as light.

13

For iust my reynes: with theyr affects: are thine how hid they be,
In wrapst thou me my mothers wombe: with vestures sonderly.

14

I geue thee thanks: for that I am: in shape formd straungely,
Thy works so hye: be wrought in me, which playnd my soule doth spye.

15

My substance first: both bones & Ioynts: were nothing hid fro the
In earth ful depe when I was wrought: and wouen was curiously

16

My masse vnshapt: thyne eyes did see: was writ in thine owne boke
By dayes increase: my parts were formd: whē none on them could looke

17

How dere to me: O God appere: thy thoughts, these counsels gret
How manifold: be but the summe: In count if they were set.

18

If I would tell: the summe of them: they should exceede the sand:
Than this reuolued: I watch to thee, by thee I trust to stand.

19

If thou uow wouldst: thy self O God: confound that wicked man:
bloud thursty men: whome I defye: would leaue me wholy than.

20

For these they be: that fight at thee and speake vngraciously:
They vse thy name: in vayne to light: thy foes be puft to hye.

21

Do I not hate: all them O Lorde: who thee with hate disdayne?
And fret not I: and fume at them: which rise at thee by trayne?

22

Yes Lord from hart: I hate them all: with perfect hate and fyne
Thy foes I take: myne enemies: as they were onely myne.

23

Than search me God: and boult my hart: to thee this cause I yelde
Well try and know: in thoughte and driftes: what hauntes in life I held
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24

And see in me: if any wayes: be founde rebellious,
Then lead me forth: the worldly way: of death obliuiouse.
previous section The whole Psalter translated into English Metre
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