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Psalm. CXL.

The Argument.

This prayth for good: (and iuste) deliuerance:
Frō wayting spies: & guyleful (fawning) frēds
Yt sheweth euēso: what ones (at lēgth) shal chance
To good and bad: in both theyr (finall) ends.

1

Eripe me domine.

O Lord most good: (in haste) deliuer me,
From man that is: so euell and (wholly) nought
O keepe me saufe: In (stedfaste) suerty,
From wrongful man: of (cursed) wicked thought.

2

To euill theyr hartes: do whole (alwaye) agree,
From whence they haue: all (suttle) mischief wrought,
To hate and bate: them selfes they (fullye) bende,
But strife all day: by them is (vainely) sought.

3

Theyr tongs so sharpe: (on me) they haue extende,
As serpent slye: (as snake) moste pestilente:
Like Adders sting: theyr (venome) poyson sende,

Sela
Such poyson they: in (fawning) lippes frequente.
403

4

My sely soule: O Lorde: (my God) defende,
From wicked power: most (fierce and) violent:
From wrongfull men: O me (good Lorde) preserue,
To trip my foote: by them is (lewdly) ment.

5

These hawty men: (to death) to make me sterue,
Hath hid theyr snares: with (suttle) cordes in brayde:
And spred their nets: me thus they (wayte to) serue,
With wily trappes: my wayes (and steps) they layde.

6

Yet sure from God: I would not (farly) swerue,
To whom in fayth: euen thus I (boldly) sayd:
Thou art my God: O heare my (wofull) mone,
From hart the roote: by tong (in word) displayd.

7

My Lord and God: my trust (most iust) alone,
My strength and health: my (closely) couerture:
Thou shieldst my hed: to scape my (deadly) fone,
In day of warre: to stand (on foote) full sure.

8

Permit not Lord: whyle thus (for wo) I grone,
His will to haue: this (wicked) man vnpure:
To hys attempt: (O Lord) geue no successe,

Sela
Lest proud they swell: and harme (the more) procure.

9

O let theyr lippes: in (crafty) wickednes:
Betrap themselfe: in all their (daily) paynes:
O let their hed: feele first (their due) distres,
That compasse me: wyth suttle (wily) traynes.

10

Let burnyng coales: for their (so mad) excesse,
Fall downe on them: to dull their (hasty) braynes
Let fire and pit: be (wholy) theyr rewarde,
No tyme to ryse: to (any) better gaynes.
404

11

Of bablyng tong: who hath no (bit or) warde,
O let them Lord: here neuer (proue to) thriue:
Him euill shall hunt: till he (to nought) be marde,
No wealth to hym: (at all) shall downe deriue.

12

Full sure I am: God will (most kynde) regard,
The poore mans case: with ayde (and ease) beliue:
Of helpelesse man: to try his (truth and) right,
In iudgement strong: for hym (alway) to striue

13

Thus righteous men: (so met) in open sight,
Shall prayse thy name: (O Lord) that is so high,
Then strayt vp men: in heauenly (ioyous) light,
Shall see thy face: (to lyue) eternally.
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