The whole Psalter translated into English Metre :: :: University of Virginia Library

Christ prayth (in this) for recompence
his foes to reape (agayne) theyr part:
So man for wrong done hym agens,
doth yet no spite in (hatefull) hart.

Iudica Domine.

1

Plead thou O Lord my (ryghtfull) case
O iudge (thy selfe) my hurtfull foes:
Oppugne thou them in (open) face,
which me (all day) impugne to lose.

2

Lay hand (O Lord) vpon the sworde,
and eke (take so) the buckler to:
Stand vp (to helpe) in thy good worde,
to keepe from me my (wrathfull) fo.

3

Bryng (forth the) speare and stop the way,
of them (so fierce) which me would harme:
To my poore soule (good Lord) oh say,
I am thy health and (stable) arme.

4

Let them be (driuen and) put to shame,
that seeke (by craft) my soule to spill:
Put them (abacke) to shamefull name,
that me wyth griefe would (deadly) fill.

5

Make them (to bee) as dust we see,
before the wynde so (lightly) blowne:
(In hast) let Gods swift aungel nie,
them (dryue in) chase wyth power knowne.

6

Make way (to them) all slippery,
let it to them be (blynd and) darke:
Gods aungel (so mought) dryue them by,
to feele thy myght and (handy) warke.

7

For they close net (and snare) haue layd,
euen causeles me to (kil and) stroy:
Yea causles (sure euen) as I sayd
my soule in pit (and graue) to cloy.

8

Let (sodayne) wo take hym vnware,
hys (crafty) net hymselfe to trap:
Let mischiefe fall wyth (payne and) care
(ryght soone) into hys onely lap.

9

My soule (I say) I bid thee leape,
wyth ioye (all glad) in thys thy Lord:
It shall (no doubt) hys health so reape,
that ioy he shall (alway) recorde.

10

My bones (so broosde) shall say O Lord,
who may (in strength) to thee be lyke?
Which sauest the poore from (tyrantes) sworde
from (irefull) spoylyng hym to keepe.

11

False witnes soone (at me) dyd ryse,
in wyckednes most (hasty) whote:
Of me they spurde (of thynges) full nyse,
that I knew not (at all) God wot.

12

They dyd (vnkynd) reward me euill,
for good to them I (frendly) wrought:
To greue my soule (it was) theyr wyll,
to bryng my lyfe (and dayes) to nought.

13

But yet (I say) when they were sicke,
in sacke cloth then I (wept and) mournd,
My soule (wyth fast) I humbled meke,
my prayer to me (eftsoones) retournd.

14

I wept (and waylde) as dearest frende,
as (any) brother that they had:
As childe for mother (doth by) kynde,
in blacke (aray) I was all clad.

15

But they (agayne) in my great euill,
they floct (on heapes) and dyd reioyce:
Most abiectes (cam and) mockt me still,
(and I) not ware in spitefull noyce.

16

Wyth such lewd slaues (so vyle) to see,
to them were scorners (ioyntly) knit:
Theyr teeth they gnast (and grynd) on mee
as (peysant) mockers was be fit.

17

When wylt thou set (O Lord) thy sight,
on thys my payne I (dayly) beare?
(O Lord) ryd me from all theyr spite,
from Lyons whelpes (defend) my deare.

18

My thankes (therfore) I will extend,
when folke (in place) be met so most:
In companies (as due) to sende,
all prayse (to thee) in euery cost.

19

Let not my foes (in ire) at me,
reioyce in quarell (falsly) styll:
For (gyltles) they hate me to free,
wyth (wynkyng) eyes they mocke theyr fill.

20

For why no peace (in truth) they speake,
but all (do rage) agaynst the meke:
Good men on earth (they wyshe) to wreke,
for thys in craft (and guile) they seeke.

21

Theyr face (and mouth) they haue distort,
at me (they cry) wyth fie and fie:
Our eye hath seene (they say) a sport,
that we (wyth ryght) may hym defie.

22

O Lord (my God) this hast thou seene,
be not at this to (dumme and) still:
In thee (thou knowst) my trust hath beene,
depart not far (from me) in will.

23

Ryse vp and wake (in hast) I say,
to iudge my cause in (open) syght:
My Lord and God (thou canst) them fray
aduenge (thou soone) my quarell ryght.

24

Oh iudge (my cause) as thou art wont,
in (equall) iustice Lord of thyne:
O (Lord my) God least in this bront,
my foes reioyce (to much) in fyne.

25

Refrayne (in tonge) them thus to say,
there there, we see (for vs) inough:
Let them not say (O Lord) I pray,
we haue hym (surely) swalowd now.

26

Let them feele shame (and blame) at full,
which ioye (and laugh) at my distresse:
At me who brag (and boast) that wull,
let shame and spyte them (fully) presse.

27

Let them (euen so) in ioy be glad,
that wyshe (to see) my ryght redrest:
To God (for aye) let thankes be had,
who wylth (so kynd) hys seruants rest.

28

My tonge (then thus) shall lowd rebound,
thy prayse (O Lord) and iustice eke:
All day I will in (perfect) sound,
thy laude tell (iust euen) weeke by weeke.