 |
 | The Psalter of David newely translated into English metre in such sort that it maye the more decently, and wyth more delyte of the mynde, be reade and songe of al men, wherunto is added a note of four partes, wyth other thynges, as shall appear in the Epistle to the Reader [by Robert Crowley] |  |
The .xlix. Psalme.
All
people hearken and geue eare to that, that I shall tell:
Boeth hygh and lowe boeth riche & pore, that in the worlde do dwell.
Boeth hygh and lowe boeth riche & pore, that in the worlde do dwell.
For whye my mouth shall make discourse, of many thynges ryght wyse:
In vnderstandynge shall myne herte hys studie exercise.
In vnderstandynge shall myne herte hys studie exercise.
I wyll enclyne myne eare to knowe thynges full dearckely spoken:
And eke vpon myne harpe I wyll make my dearcke speach open.
And eke vpon myne harpe I wyll make my dearcke speach open.
In the tyme of aduersitie, whye should I stande in doubt?
If the wyckednes of my steppes should compasse me about.
If the wyckednes of my steppes should compasse me about.
Emonge them that haue greate richesse, and do trust therin moste:
And in the multitude therof, do aye glorie & boaste:
And in the multitude therof, do aye glorie & boaste:
There is not one that any waye can hys brother redeme:
Nor paye to God ye raunsome that, he doeth for hym esteme.
Nor paye to God ye raunsome that, he doeth for hym esteme.
For, to redeme theyr soules from death the price would be to hye:
To make them so perfect that they myght lyue eternally.
To make them so perfect that they myght lyue eternally.
And to make them that in them selfe they should no such cause haue:
But that they myght lyue euer and neuer come to the graue.
But that they myght lyue euer and neuer come to the graue.
For it is playne that as well the wise as the folysh dye:
And leaue theyr goodes to other men, but foles die vtterly.
Theyr graue shalbe theyr house for aye, & eke theyr dwellynge place:
Though lyueynge here they studied vayne glorie for a space.
Though lyueynge here they studied vayne glorie for a space.
But man doeth neuer longe abyde in estimation:
But shalbe lyke a beaste fallynge into destruction.
But shalbe lyke a beaste fallynge into destruction.
Thys theyr purpose and waye they walke is theyr follye in dede:
And yet of theyr posteritie, theyr worddes are alowed.
And yet of theyr posteritie, theyr worddes are alowed.
They are placed emonge the deade, as they were flockes of shepe:
And death is he that feadeth thē, and hath them for to kepe.
And death is he that feadeth thē, and hath them for to kepe.
And at the iudgment daye the iuste, shall rule them as a kynge:
Theyr beawtie shall decaye, & the pyt shalbe theyr dwellynge.
Theyr beawtie shall decaye, & the pyt shalbe theyr dwellynge.
But God shall deliuer my soule out of the powre of hell:
Because he hath receyued me, in his house for to dwell.
Because he hath receyued me, in his house for to dwell.
When any man is enriched, be not afeard therfore:
Or when the glorie of hys house encreaseth more and more.
Or when the glorie of hys house encreaseth more and more.
For when he dyeth he shall not, all these thynges wyth him take:
His glorie shall not go wyth him, but shal him quite forsake.
His glorie shall not go wyth him, but shal him quite forsake.
Because they compt them selues happye, in this vayne lyfe only:
When a man is good to him self, then prayse they him greatly.
When a man is good to him self, then prayse they him greatly.
Unto theyr fathers nation, lett all these men go ryght:
Let them not haue fruition of confortable lyght.
Let them not haue fruition of confortable lyght.
But man doeth not expende and waygh, his owne nobilitie:
Wherfore he shalbe lyke the beast that dieth vtterly.
Wherfore he shalbe lyke the beast that dieth vtterly.
| The Psalter of David newely translated into English metre in such sort that it maye the more decently, and wyth more delyte of the mynde, be reade and songe of al men, wherunto is added a note of four partes, wyth other thynges, as shall appear in the Epistle to the Reader [by Robert Crowley] | |