Superius Psalmes, Sonets, & Songs of sadnes and pietie, made into Musicke of fiue parts: whereof, some of them going abroad among diuers, in untrue coppies, are heere truely corrected, and th'other being Songs very rare & newly composed, are heere published, for the recreation of all such as delight in Musick: By William Byrd |
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| [The Psalmes] |
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| II. |
| III. |
| IIII. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
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[The Psalmes]
[I.] O God giue care & do apply
Psal. 55.
O God giue eare & do applyO God giue eare & do apply, to heare me whē I pray: & whē to thee I call & cry, hide not thy self, hide not thy selfe away. Take heed to me graūt my request, & aūswere me againe: With plaints I prayful sore opprest, great grief doth me constraine, Because my foes with threats & cries, oppresse me through despite: and so the wicked sort likewise, to vexe me haue delight, haue delight. For they in coūsel do cōspire, to charge me with some ill. So in their hasty wrath & yre, they do pursue me still, they do pursue me still, they do pursue me still. For they in &c.
[II.] Mine eies with feruencie
Psalm. 123.
Mine eyes with feruencie of sprite,
I do lift vp on hie:
To thee ô lord that dwell'st in light,
which no man may come nie.
Behold euen as the seruants eies,
vpon their master waite:
And as the maide her mistrist hand,
with carefull eye and strayte
Attends: So we ô Lord our God,
thy throne with hope and griefe
Behold, vntill thou mercie send,
and giue vs some relife.
I do lift vp on hie:
To thee ô lord that dwell'st in light,
which no man may come nie.
Behold euen as the seruants eies,
vpon their master waite:
And as the maide her mistrist hand,
with carefull eye and strayte
Attends: So we ô Lord our God,
thy throne with hope and griefe
Behold, vntill thou mercie send,
and giue vs some relife.
O Lord though we deserue it not,
yet mercie let vs finde:
A people that despised are,
throwne downe in soule and minde,
The mightie proud men of the world,
that seekes vs to oppresse:
Haue fild our soules with all contempts,
and left vs in distresse.
yet mercie let vs finde:
A people that despised are,
throwne downe in soule and minde,
The mightie proud men of the world,
that seekes vs to oppresse:
Haue fild our soules with all contempts,
and left vs in distresse.
FINIS.
[III.] My soule opprest with care
Psalm. 119.
My soule opprest with care and griefe,doth cleaue vnto the dust:
O quicken me after thy woord,
for therein doe I trust.
My waies vnto thee haue I shew'd,
thou aunswerest me againe:
Teach me thy law and so I shall,
be eased of my paine.
The way of thy commaund'ments Lord,
make me to vnderstand:
And I will muse vppon the power,
and wonders of thy hand.
My heart doth melt and pyne away,
for very payne and griefe:
O, raise me vp, after thy word,
and send mee some reliefe,
All falshood, and false waies O Lord,
doe thou from me remoue:
And graunt me grace, to know thy law,
and onely that to loue.
The way of truth I choose to tread,
to keepe my life in awe:
And set before me as a marke,
thy sacred woord and law.
I cleaue, O Lord, vnto all things,
witnessed by thy speech:
Whereof that I repent me not,
I humbly thee beseech.
When that my heart thou shalt enlarge,
to seeke and runne the waies:
Of thy precepts, I will not fayle,
the length of all my dayes.
FINIS.
[IIII.] How shall a young man prone
2. Pars. Psalm. 119.
How shall a young man prone to ill,clense his vnbridled heart?
If that thy law, ô Lord he doe,
all frailtie set apart.
Embrace with setled minde, and learne
thy word with care to keepe:
And search to finde with humble sprite,
thy iudgements that are deepe.
With my whole heart, I haue thee sought,
and searched out thy way:
O suffer not that from thy word
I swarue or goe astraie.
Thy word ô Lord, within my heart,
least I should thee offend:
I haue laide vp as treasure great,
for that shall mee defend.
The Lord is blest, he shall me teach,
the iudgements of his mouth,
Thereby to rule and dresse the waies,
of mine vntamed youth.
Thy lawes therefore, in open place,
my lippes shall euer sound:
And neuer fayle to shew foorth that,
to which thou hast me bound.
For in the way of thy precepts,
I set my whole delight:
No wealth, no treasure of the world,
so precious in my sight.
What thou commaund'st I will thinke on,
with diligent respect:
And to thy lawes haue due regard,
for they shall me protect,
In thy precepts, ô Lord, my soule
her whole delight hath set:
Thy words therefore more pure then gold,
I neuer will forget.
FINIS.
[V.] O Lord how long wilt thou
PSALME. 13.
O Lord, how long wilt thou forget,to send mee some relife?
For euer wilt thou hide thy face,
and so increase my griefe?
How long shall I with vexed heart,
seeke counsell in my spirit?
How long shall my malicious foes,
triumph and me despit?
O Lord my God, heare my complaint,
vttered with wofull breath:
Lighten mine eyes, defend my life,
that I sleepe not in death.
Least that mine enemie say I haue,
against him loe preuayl'd:
At my downe fall they will reioyce,
that thus haue me assayl'd.
But in thy mercie Lord I trust,
for that shall mee defend:
My heart doth ioye, to see the help,
which thou to mee wilt send.
Vnto the Lord therefore I sing,
and doe lift vp my voyce:
And for his goodnesse shew'd to mee,
I will alwaie reioyce.
FINIS.
[VI.] O Lord who in thy sacred tent
Psalme. 15.
O Lord who in thy sacred tent,and holy hill shall dwell:
Euen he that both in heart & minde,
doth studie to do well.
In life vpright, in dealing iust,
and he that from his heart
The truth doth speake with singlenes,
all falshood set apart.
With tongue besides that hurts no man,
by false and ill report:
Not friend nor neighbour harme will doe,
where euer he resort.
That hates the bad, and loues the good,
and faith that neuer breakes:
But keepes alwaies though to his losse,
the word that once he speakes.
Nor filthie gaine by loue that seekes,
nor wealth so to possesse:
Nor that for bribes, the guiltles soule,
doth labour to oppresse.
Like as a mount so shall he stand,
nothing shall him remoue:
That thus shall do, the Lord hath said,
no man can it disproue.
FINIS.
[VII.] Help Lord for wasted are &c.
Psalm. 12.
Help Lord for wasted are those men,which right'usnesse embrace:
And rarely found that faithfull are,
but all the truth deface.
Each to his neighbour falshood speakes,
and them seekes to beguile:
With flattering lips and double heart,
when smothest he doth smile.
All flattering lips, the Lord our God,
in iustice will confound:
And all proud tongues, that vaunt great things,
he will bring to the ground.
Our tongues say they, shall lift vs vp,
by them we shall preuaile:
Who should vs let, or stoppe our course,
that thereof we should fayle.
For the destruction of the iust,
and such as be opprest:
And for the mournings of the poore,
that likewise be distrest.
I will rise vp now saith the Lord,
and ease their griefe and care:
Of those which he full craftely,
hath draw'n into his snare.
Like siluer fine that tried is,
seuen times by heate of fire:
So are thy woords Lord pure and cleane,
to such as them desire.
Thou Lord wilt keep, and wilt defend,
all such as in thee trust,
And from that cursed race of men,
saue all such as be iust.
When euill men exalted bee,
the wicked gad about:
Farre from all feare of paine, but thou
ô Lord wilt roote them out.
FINIS.
[VIII.] Blessed is he that feares &c.
PSALME. 112.
Blessed is he that feares the Lord,he walketh in his waies:
And sets his great delight therein,
the length of all his dayes.
His seed and those which of him come,
mightie on earth shall be:
The race of such as faithfull are,
men blessed shall them see.
Plentiousnes within his house,
and want there shalbe neuer:
His righteous and vpright dealing,
endure shall for euer.
In mistie cloudes of troubles darke,
which doe the iust oppresse,
The Lord in mercie sends them light,
and easeth their distresse.
The righteous man is mercifull,
and lendeth where is need,
He guids with iudgement all his things,
be it in word or deed.
Though stormes doe fall and tempests rise,
the righteous shall stand fast:
A good remembrance of the iust,
for euer that shall last.
None euill tidings shall him feare,
his heart is fully set,
He trusteth and beleeues the Lord,
that will him not forget.
A stablisht heart within his brest,
no feare where so he goes,
The Lord in iustice will reuenge,
the malice of his foes.
A hand that doth reliue the poore,
for which he may be sure,
A good report will follow him,
that alwaies shall endure.
This shall the wicked see and fret,
and wast away with ire,
Perish shall and consume to naught,
all that he doth desire.
FINIS.
IX. Lord in thy wrath
Psalm. 6
Lord in thy wrath reproue me notLord in thy wrath reproue me not, in thy wrath reproue me not though I deserue thine yre: Ne yet correct me in thy rage, ô Lord I thee desire. For I am weak, therfore (ô Lord) of mercy me forbeare: And heale me Lord, for why? thou know'st, my bons do quake for fear, for feare.
X. Even from the depth
Psalm. 6
Even frō the depth, vnto thee LordEven frō the depth, vnto thee Lord, vnto thee Lord, with heart & voice I cry, I cry: Giue eare ô God vnto my playnt, vnto my plaint, & help my miserie, my miserie.
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