University of Virginia Library


104

Psal. 56. Miserere mei Deus.

Ad Præstantem, super Columbam mutam Remotorum, Michtam Davidis, cùm deprebenderent eum Pelishtim in Gath.

1

Be mercifull, O God, to mee,
whom man would make his prey:
Whose hands from fighting never free,
oppresse me all the day.

2

My foes to swallow me out-right,
their daily powers apply:
For many hands against me fight,
O thou that art Most-Hie.

3

The day that cloudy doubts appeare,
to make my heart affraid;
My hopes yet shining through my feare,
expect thy promis'd aide.

4

In God by me his Word sincere,
sincerely prais'd shall be:
In God I trust, and will not feare
what flesh can doe to me.

5

To wrest my words is all their care,
their daily counsells end,
Against me, all for evill are
the thoughts that they entend.

6

Together all lay out their line,
as close as hooke in bait:
Observing every step of mine,
when for my soule they wait.

7

Shall wickednesse such wages have?
so safe shall they escape?
Digge in thy wrath, O God, the grave
that for their fall shall gape.

105

8

Thou numbrest all my wandring yeeres,
what toiles I undertooke:
Told in thy bottle put my teares,
are they not in thy booke?

9

That day that I upon thee call,
my foes shall turne their backe:
Of God, I know, I never shall
the gracious favour lacke.

10

In God the Word will I commend,
the Word praise-worthy most:
Lord, of thy Word, where is no end
of praise, my praise shall boast.

11

On God my hopes their anchor throw,
affraid I will not be,
What earthly man to me can doe,
or challenge done by me.

12

Thy vowes, O God, upon me are,
which I to thee will pay:
And sacrifice of praise prepare
before thy face to lay.

13

For thou my soule from death didst free,
my feet from sliding quite:
To walke, O God, in sight of thee,
with them that live in light.