The whole Psalter translated into English Metre which contayneth an hundreth and fifty Psalmes |
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Psalme. XLIX.
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 | The whole Psalter translated into English Metre |  |
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.
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.
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.
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,
| The whole Psalter translated into English Metre | |