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

As Christ (the Lord) for hym and hys,
In trust did pray: in (paynfull) stresse:
So man euen like: as did his head,
May iust the same: (in worde) expresse.

Quemadmodum ceruus.

1

Euen lyke (in chase) the hunted Hynde,
the water brookes: (doth glad) desire:
Euen thus my soule: that faintie is,
to thee (my God) would fayne aspire.

2

My (wery) soule: dyd thyrst to God,
To God (the fount) of lyfe and grace:
It sayd euen thus: when shall I come,
To see (at eye) Gods liuely face.

3

My teares in stede: of (foode and) meate,
Both day and nyght (to me) they were:
Whyle that all day: rebukers sayd,
Where is thy God: (fro thee) so far.

4

When this (O Lord) came soone to hart,
I yet (therin) recomfort felt:
And trust to lead: the people forth,
to go (full glad) where thou hast dwelt.

5

To ioy in (hart: and) voyce of myrth,
Wyth laudes & thankes (most due) alway:
Among thy folke: when that they kepe,
So hye (in sight) theyr holy day.

122

9

Why castes thy selfe: than (flatly) downe,
My (fainty) soule: I sayd no lesse:
Why layest in me: so painfully,
In (greuous) wo: and carefulnes?

Put thou thy trust: (and hope) in God,
Let (earthly) thyng: not thee amase:
I wyll hym thanke: for all his helpe,
In sight (most sure) of hys good grace.

6

My God my soule: is (dayly) vext,
Wyth inward paynes (& pangs) so thrill:
I mynde thy workes: in Iordan yet,
so done (by thee) next Hermon hill.

7

As deepe (profound) to deepe reboundth,
at (dreadfull) noyce: of thy great showers
Thy streames by course: so ouerflowes,
My soule (alasse) the payne deuoures.

8

But God yet will: (commaund) the day,
To shyne (most clere) me grace to see:
My night of wo: shall prayse hym than,
Who kept yet lyfe: (to byde) in mee.

9

Thou art my strength: (alone) O God
I myght therby) than playne in wo:
Why hast me thus: forgot so quyte,
So sad to go: for (mortall) fo.

10

It pierceth my bones (as sharpe) as sword
To heare my foes: in (cruell) spyte:
They daily thus: at me vpbreyde,
Where is (become) thy God of myght?

123

11

Why art thou then: (I say) my soule?
So vext (wyth griefe) and prostrate so?
Why makest in me: so much a do,
Where God is frende: in (all thy) wo.

12

O put thy hope (I byd) in God,
I trust (therto) in tyme and place:
He is my God: whom I wyll thanke,
My face shall see: hys (helpyng) grace.

Psalme. XLIII.

The Argument.

For Saule hys wrong
Prayd Dauid strong
among Philistians
The poore euen so
To God in wo.
may thus theyr cry auance.

Iudica me Domine.

1

O God eterne: as iudge discerne
my cause, from folkes vncleane:
And ryd me so: from man that go,
in vyce, and guyle doth meane.

124

2

My God of myght: thou art of ryght,
Why hast vs dryuen from thee?
Whyle thus go I: so mournfully,
at mens hostilitie.

3

Send out thy lyght: and truth to sight,
to leade and guyde my way:
To see thy place: thy hyll of grace,
where thou doost rest all day.

4

That I may go: Gods aulters to,
to thee my God euen tyll:
To thee my ioye: my God and roye,
wyth harpe thee thanke I wyll.

5

My soule so dull: why art so full,
of griefe and heauines?
Why standst agast: as helpe were past?
such thoughtes why doost impresse?

Put all thy trust: in God most iust,
I wyll hym thankes extende:
He shewth me grace: euen nye at face,
as God all health he sendth.

125

Psalme. XLIII.

The Argument.

This psalm aforesaid in an other Metre.

Poore Dauid prest by tyranny,
Of wilfull Saule: who could not blin,
For his blacke garde: to search hym nye,
Prayth thus to God his helpe to winne,
And wysheth that he his cause would try.
He thus beginneth.

Iudica me Deus.

1

Ah iudge me God: O iudge most true,
Discern my cause: by power opprest
Unfaintly men: do me pursue
By lawes vniust: my right deprest,
Which yet thy word: allowth full due,
O geue me rest.

Rule me to scape: that wycked man,

1. Reg. 24.

That sinfull Saule: of shameles face,
Who boasteth himselfe: all that he can,

2. Thes. 2.

And doth vsurpe: thy godly place,
Whose power by sleite: and sinne began.
O iudge my case.

2

Know this I do: my God thou art
To thee my strength: I whole appeale,
Why putst me backe: why standst apart?
My state to thee: I iust reueale,
Why turnst from mee: thy louyng hart?
O mercy deale.

Eternall God: why go I thus,
Ashamd in face: and vily checkt:
My cause but made: opprobrious,
Why doth my fo: thus me reiect?
To beare me downe: so rigorous?
O me respect.

126

3

Returne thy light: my hart to cheare,
Perfourme thy fayth: that thou hast hight:
Thy lyght and truth: let it appeare,
To teache the blynde: thy worde so bryght,
That it may rule: as law most deare,
O kepe thy ryght.

Make hast O Lord: and bring me nye,
Thy holy hill: to sing thy prayse:
Thy truth and lyght: of sanctuarie,
Will be my guide: in all these frayes,
Expell thys crosse, thys misery.
O cheare my dayes.

4

That I may go: gods aulters to
To offer thankes: in sacrifice:
In hart deuout: as due is so,
Yea nye in sight: to God to rise
My God of ioy: ease thou my wo,
O glad myne eyes.

That thou alone: half geuen reliefe,
I thee wyll laude: wyth harpe and lute:
My God intiere: my helpe in chiefe,
Thou shalt my foes: for me confute,
So me to ayde: to ease my griefe,
O heare my sute.

5

Why then my soule: art thou so sad?
Why fretst within: why troublest me?
So foule dismayd: in thoughts bestad,
Knowst not that God: thy God is he?
Call thys to mynde: to make thee glad,
O make me free.

127

Euen trust to God: in stablenes,
No more but trust: for sure he is,
I will hym yet: wyth laudes confesse,
For he wyll cheare: my face iwis,
My God my helth: he is no lesse.
O graunt all this.

Psalme. XLIIII.

The Argument.

This Psalme wyth God expostulath,
That helpe he long delayes:
It prayth for men all desolate,
In olde respect of dayes.

Deus auribus.

1

O God so good: before these dayes,
we hard with open eares:
The fathers sage: tolde vs thy wayes,
thy workes of olde ferne yeares.

2

How thou expulst: the heathen rout,
to plant thy people dere:
What people stout: thou dydst wede out,
to roote the fathers there.

3

Not they by sword: did winne the land,
their owne arme saued them not.
But thy bright face: thyne arme and hand,
such loue at thee they got.

128

4

Thou art my kyng: O God my weale,
none other sue I to:
As once thou holpst good Israell,
helpe Iacobs stocke euen so.

5

By thee our foes: down shall we throwe,
our hornes shall burte them downe:
In thy greate name: full well we know,
to make our foes astowne.

6

For trust is none: in strength of bowe,
that we can bende and draw:
My sworde to weake: my strength to lowe,
to helpe not worth a strawe.

7

But onely thou: euen onely thou,
sauest vs from all our foes:
Thou filst them all: wyth shame inough,
at vs that hatefull goes.

8

Of God aboue: we make our boast,
all day in thankefull part:
To prayse hys name: in euery coast,
for euer iust in hart.

Sela

9

But what meanth this thou art so far,
wherby our shame thou seest:
Where thou wert wont to be so nar,
our armies now thou fleest.

10

Thou makest vs fast to turne our backes,
vpon our enemy:
And who vs hate wyth spitefull crackes,
they spoyle our goodes at eye.

129

11

Thou letst vs all: as sparpled sheepe,
to be deuoured quyte:
As scattred flocke: we mourne and weepe,
among the Paynyms spyte.

12

To heathen dogs vncircumcised,
thou selst thy flocke for nought:
No gayne to thee: do ryse in deede,
though we be solde and bought.

13

Thou makest vs all rebuke to take,
of them that neygbours bee:
Of vs but scorne: and scoffe they make,
about vs whome we see.

14

Thou makst vs now: as laughyng stockes,
a scorne vnto the heathen:
They shake their heades: as we were blockes
deryded vp to heauen.

15

My shame and eke: confusion,
standth full to daunt myne eye:
My face all shame: is put vpon,
no ende therof I spye.

16

We heare to oft: the slaunderer,
how he blasphemth our fayth:
We see our fo: what hate he bearth,
how he to vengeaunce layth.

17

Though yet these thinges be come on vs,
we do not thee forget:
Nor froward lyke: vngratious,
thy couenaunt we reiect.

130

18

Our hart yet standth: not turnd aside,
to seeke for other God:
Nor yet our steps: begone so wyde,
by wayes to walke so brode.

19

No though thou hast: vs smitten sore,
where Dragons cruell dwell:
Though paynde we be: and tost the more,
wyth death the shadowes fell.

20

Among thy plages: if we so euill,
should God in name forget:
To holde our handes: in straying will,
to other Gods beset?

21

Should not our God: inquyre for thys,
to searche where we become?
Who knowth our harts and doth not misse,
the secretes all and some?

22

When thus for thee: all day we bee,
as drawne to death and slayne:
Appoynted thus: as sheepe we see,
to slaughter driuen a mayne.

23

Then wake O Lord: why sleepst so deepe,
as though thou louedst not ryght?
Aryse, be nye: thy people keepe,
aye leaue vs not to spyte.

24

Why turnst thy face: so irefully,
we lowly sinners bee:
Why doost forget: our misery,
our troubles great to see.

131

25

Our soule to dust: is brought a downe,
euen iust at deathes gate:
Our bellies cleaues: in paynfull swowne,
to ground in fearefull state.

26

Aryse O God: and helpe vs soone,
deliuer vs so thrall:
For thyne owne sake: we be vndone,
for mercy we do call.

Psalme. XLV.

The Argument.

A laude ye see: of king and queene,
set out most glorious:
But Christ and eke: his spouse is seene,
more nye described thus.

Eructauit cor meum

1

My hart breakth out: sweete prayse to syng,
my song to kyng I make:
My tonge as swift: to do the thyng,
as scribe hys penne can shake.

2

More fayre thou art: more amorous
than Adams sonnes I say:
Thy spech of lippes: is gracious,
for God blest thee for aye.

132

3

Begyrd thy thigh; Prince valiant,
with sword to vanquish stout:
To thy owne laude: as mete it stant,
thy fame must shew it out.

4

In worship, speede: and prosper, hye,
ryde on to fence the truth:
In mekenes clad: and equitye,
great acts thy hand ensueth.

5

Thyne arrowes kene: full sharply goes,
all folke to thee shall fall:
Among the mids: the kings his foes,
their harts to vanquishe all.

6

Thy royall throne: O God is fast,
which euer shall endure:
Thy kingdoms mace: all right is cast,
to iudge in truth full sure.

7

Thou louest the right: and hatst the wronge,
O God, thy God therfore:
With oyle of ioye: anoynts the stronge,
beyonde thy match the more.

8

Thy garments smell: of Aloes,
of Myrre and cassia:
From Iuory chests: out brought they these,
to glad thy hart I say.

9

Among thy maydes: so debonayre,
kings daughters there were tolde:
Thy right hande helde: the Queene so fayre,
in colourd cloth of golde.

133

10

O daughter heare: and see full kynde,
inclyne thyne eare to mee:
Thy people whole: cast out of mynde,
thy fathers house to flee.

11

So shall the kyng: thy bewty lyke,
hys loue shall ioyne to thee:
He is thy God: and Lord to seeke,
wyth hart then serue hym free.

12

So Tyrus land: shal thee enriche,
and they that richest standes:
Shall bryng thee giftes: thy face to seache,
wyth thee to ioyne theyr handes.

13

Thys kynges sweete Queene: is glorious,
all whole wythin to see:
Her garmentes wrought: all curious,
wyth gold enbroydred bee.

14

So brought she is: before the kyng,
in clothe of needle wrought:
Her Uirgin maydes: her companieng,
her frendes shall nye be brought.

15

Wyth ioye and myrth: they shall full nye,
be brought to hym I say:
In palace there: most innerly,
where kyng hymselfe doth lay.

16

Thy fathers romes: such auncientes,
thy sonnes shall iust succede:
Whom thou mayst make: as Presidentes,
all landes in rule to sprede.

134

17

Thy name to all: in memory,
I euer wyll denounce:
The people so: shall durably,
to thee aye thankes pronounce.

Psalme. XLVI.

The Argument.

In this Christes spouse elect (full well)
Her thankes to God extendth:
For that he dyd her foes debell,
And that he her defendth.

Deus noster refugium.

1

Our hope is God and strength (at eye)
he guidth wyth hys good hand:
A present helpe: in trouble nye,
hys grace therby doth stand.

2

For this we neede: not care (and feare)
though world be cast in stowne:
Though hils to sea: were thrown (euen there)
though all turne vpside downe.

3

The waters though: they rage (in streme)
how euer they do swell:
Though mountayns quake: at noyse of them,
yet iust man hopth full wel.

Sela

135

4

For why sweete brookes: and floudes (full nye)
Gods Citie glad shall steepe:
Hys holy place: and sanctuarye,
God strongly it doth keepe.

5

God dwelth in myds: of her (alone)
no man shall her remoue:
Ryght early God: shall helpe her sone,
hys church I meane aboue.

6

The heathen though: they rage (to fonde)
and realmes resist I say:
God raysde hys voyce: and so in londe,
our foes dyd melt away.

7

The Lord of hostes: so strong (euen he)
Wyth vs he standth to fyght:
So Iacobs God: our refuge be,
we feare no humayne myght.

Sela.

8

Lo come and see: how God (in wrath)
great meruayles aye hath wrought:
What landes to nought: he scatred hath,
how low theyr Idols brought.

9

He put down warrs: and stryfe (in feare)
the whole world where they went:
He knapth the bow: and breakth the speare,
wyth fire he charets brent.

10

Be still and know: I say (all ye)
that God I am aryght:
To heathen all: knowne will I be,
the world shall see my myght.

136

11

The Lord of hostes: so strong (from hence)
wyth vs he is I say:
And Iacobs God: is whole our fence,
our boast in hym doth lay.

Sela.

Psalme. XLVII.

The Argument.

This Psalme to ioy exhorth: all christen men in sight:
That Christ by power ascended so: whom glory sued aright.

Omnes gentes.

1

Together clap ye handes: ye Gentils all be glad:
Reioyce to God in melody: with thanks for mercy had

2

The Lord is hie in power: and ought be feard I say,
He is the king of all the earth: to hym all thinges obey.

3

He shall so vnder vs: the people soone subdue:
All Gentils cast at feete of vs: at vs their Lordes to sue.

4

He dyd chose out all vs: an heritage so fayre:
Euen Iacobs hie magnificence: whō he did loue as heyre.

5

God is ascended vp: in ioyfull noyse on hye:
With trumpets noyse: as once his arke, euē thus vp hie did stye,

6

O prayses sing to him: O prayses see ye sing:
Sing prayses still vnto our god: and laud him iust as king

7

For that our God is king: of all the world so rounde:
Sing ye his prayse than prudently: wt vnderstāding sound

137

8

For God by strength doth raigne: vpon the heathen all
God sitteth vpon his holy seate: all thyng doth heare hys call.

9

The peoples heds be met: with Abrahams god & seede
Of god they be to shield the earth: but god doth thē exceede

Psalme. XLVIII.

The Argument.

Gods Citie here
Is praysed clere
a type of Christ hys spouse,
It teachth agayne
All Christen men
of prayse to pay theyr vowes.

Magnus Dominus.

1

Great is the Lord: wyth hye accorde,
so praysed ought to bee:
In citie great: where God is set,
hys holy hill to see.

2

For Syon hyll: is fayer still,
of all the world the blisse:
This hyll so wyde: holdth North on syde,
Gods citie hye it is.

3

Our God euen thus: most glorious,
is knowne in palace great:
As refuge sure: all men to cure,
that place is hys so neat.

148

4

For lo the kynges: theyr gatherynges,
in earth made her to spoyle:
Though thus they met: wyth fury whet,
yet her they could not foyle.

5

Her walles and holdes, they dyd behold,
and merueld all agast:
Theyr hartes were danke: theyr brags were blanke,
eftsones they downe were cast.

6

Such feares and panges, theyr harts so wrang
in tyme of theyr assaute:
As women knowes: theyr bearyng throwes,
wyth feares lyke were they fraught.

7

So dyd they quayle: as Tharsis sayle,
felt wreckt by wyndes of East:
For Paynyms all: be worthy fall,
Gods heritage to wrest.

8

As we dyd heare: so saw we neare,
Gods citye hye and strong:
Thys God of oures: the God of powers,
wyll strength her aye from wrong.

Sela.

9

As we conceyud: so we receyud,
O Lord thy mercy great:
For we dyd wayte: thy helpe most great,
in myds of temple set.

10

As (EL) thy name: is strong in fame,
So is thy prayse well sene:
The world full out, and so no dout,
thy workes full ryghteous bene.

139

11

Let Syon mount: her ioy recount,
let Iudas townes be glad:
For thys thy dome: to pull a downe,
these Paynyms frantike mad.

12

Walke ye about: the wals so stout,
of Syons gostly house:
And tell her towers: her fortes and bowers,
her prayse that ye may rouse.

13

And marke ye well: how strong she dwelth,
in bulwarkes how she lie.
That ye may tell: it euery deale,
to your posteritie.

14

This God euen hee: our God we see,
for aye and euer strong:
He shall vs guyde: tyll death so wyde,
of hym shall be our song.

140

Psalme. XLIX.

The Argument.

The Iewes be here,
Reproued full nere,
theyr honour not to see,
It doth inuite
The Christen knight,
of worlde the pryde to flee.

Audite omnes.

1

O heare ye out: ye gentiles stout,
thys thyng that I wyll tell:
But ponder it: wyth eares vnshit,
thys world all ye that dwell.

2

Ye Adams broode: ye noble blood,
heare ye my spell and lore:
Both hye and low: all whole in row,
the ryche and eke the poore.

3

My mouth shall splay: all wisdomes way,
that will man kepe and saue:
My hart doth muse: most godly truthes,
all vnderstandyng graue.

4

I wyll incline: these eares of myne,
to parable full meete:
Deepe wordes in harpe: my mouth wil carpe,
the sence though shall be sweete.

5

Why should I feare: euill dayes to beare,
to set on mucke my hart?
That euen my heele: of lyfe so euill,
at last myght bryng me smart?

141

6

For some there bee: whose hartes agree,
in goodes to put theyr trust:
And boast themselues: as carkyng elues,
of ryches store vniust.

7

No brother can: redeme a man,
from death though fayne he would:
Or God to go: to offer to,
agreement who so should?

8

The pryce to great: herein is set,
from death a soule to bye,
That must he leaue: to gods owne leaue,
for aye in hym to lye.

9

That is to say: that he should aye,
byde here in mortall state:
That he no graue: should euer haue,
but lyue in pleasant rate.

10

For he may spy: that wyse men dye,
and peryshe all the fort:
As well the wyse: as mad and nyse,
to others leaue theyr port.

11

And can they thynke: that neuer sinke,
theyr houses shall and fames:
That they here still: shall dwell theyr fill,
and landes to beare theyr names?

12

It will not be: that euer he,
shall last in glory gay:
But forth must go: as beastes they do,
in britle state and way.

142

13

Lo this theyr way: is folishe stray,
they blunder blyndly thus:
And yet theyr broode: prayse this for good,
as fooles obliuious.

Sela.

14

They shall lye deepe: in hell lyke sheepe,
and death shall gnaw theyr mawe:
But clere in lyght: of mornyng bryght,
the iust shall be their awe.

15

Theyr beauty gay: shall wast away,
in graue with stinche on sweete:
Theyr houses clene: shal not be sene,
for them so after meete.

16

But as for me: my God euen he,
my soule he iust will saue:
From hell the power: in blessed hower,
my sprite to hym to haue.

Sela.

17

But feare thou nat: ne deare thou that,
though one be welthy made,
Though now hys house, shyne glorious,
in honours portly trade.

18

For nought he shall: of riches all,
hence cary whan he dyth:
Nor yet hys pryde: hys pompe so wyde,
in graue wyth hym shall lye.

19

Whyle here he dwelt: hys soule he delt,
all ease wyth pleasures wealth:
Such men will thee: prayse wyse to bee,
if thou so helpst thy selfe.

143

20

That thou also: wyth them myghtst go,
theyr fathers steps to sue:
Where they no lyght: shall see in syght,
for theyr excesse vndue.

21

Man lyuyng thus: all gorgious,
who vnderstandyng wanth:
Is lyke to beast: wyth them to rest,
whose fame is short and scant,

Psalme. L.

The Argument.

Here is reproued: the sacrifice,
of Iewes for foolishe trust:
And taught here is: wyth sad aduise,
that thankes be yet more iust.

Deus deorum Dominus.

1

The God of Gods: the lord of myght,
one God in persons three:
He bidth and calth: the earth in sight
from East to West to see.

2

Thys God appeard: from Zyon hill,
as God of beauty most:
From whence he would: should spring his wil
and law to euery coast.

3

Our God is come: in tyme of grace,
he wyll no silence keepe:
Wyth wastyng fire: before hys face,
about hym tempest deepe.

144

4

The heauen aboue: the earth below,
he doth vpon them call:
Hys people all: to iudge and know,
to helpe them that be thrall.

5

Collect ye now: my sayntes sayth he,
in one, before my sight:
Who stand in leage: and pact wyth me,
by sacrifices ryte.

6

The heauens shall sprede: hys iustice cleare,
that all the world may spy:
That God himselfe: wyll iudge appeare,
the good from bad to try.

Sela

7

My people heare: for thus I say,
thy selfe to wytnesse iust:
O Israell: thy God alway,
thy God I am to trust.

8

For sacrifice: or burnt incence,
I wyll not thee reproue:
To blame therin: thy negligence,
to send them me aboue.

9

From out thy house: I wyll not craue,
Bull, Bullocke, Oxe, or calfe:
Of thy folde els: he goates to haue,
to ioy of theyr behalfe.

10

The beastes that grase: the wood so wyde,
they be all myne at wyll:
On thousand hyls: the beastes that stryde,
I made them thee to fill.

145

11

On mouataynes foules: that vse theyr flyght,
I know them all and some:
Wylde beastes of field: be nye my sight,
as made for my renoume.

12

If hungers stresse: though myght I fele,
I would not tell it thee:
The world all whole: euen euery dele,
is myne and all ye see.

13

And thinkst thou thus: so grosse in wit,
that I buls flesh would eate?
Or bloud of Goates: to drynke of it,
as bloud to spill were sweete?

14

Na this it is: that I allow,
to God aye offer thankes:
And pay to God: of lyfe thy vow,
and seeke none other crankes.

15

In all thy wo: call thou on mee,
when troubles thee do thrust:
I wil (no fayle) deliuer thee,
thus shalt thou prayse me iust.

16

But God thus chect: vngodly man,
what meanst to preach my lawes?
My pact in mouth: why takest thou than,
where lyfe hath wycked sawes.

17

To be correct: by discipline,
thou hatest to heare the worde:
So thou doost cast: at backe of thyne,
my law of sweete recorde.

18

When thefe thou spiest: wyth him thou goest,
to part the spoyle in hast:
Who wedlocke breake: with them thou boast,
thy lot wyth them is cast.

146

19

To cursed speche: thy tonge thou dightst,
to clout all crafty guile:
The iust thou wringst: the bad thou quytest,
by lawes pretense and style.

20

Thou sitst as iudge: thy brothers name,
by sleit to ouer runne:
Thou quarell pikst: in crafty frame,
agaynst thy mothers sonne.

21

Whyle thus thou doost: I sayeng nought,
thou iudgest me nought lyke thee:
But yet I shall: what thou hast wrought,
detect before thyne eye.

22

O ponder this: I do you pray,
all you that God forget:
Lest I in hast: plucke you away,
in wo to see you set.

23

Who offer me: the sacrifice,
of thankes he honorth mee:
And thys the way: wherby I vyse,
Gods helth to let hym see.