 | The Poems of Alexander Montgomerie |  |
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THE MINDES MELODIE.
PSALME I.
Blest is the man,
Ȝea, happie than,
By grace that can
Eschew ill counsell and the godles gates;
And walkes not in
The way of sin,
Nor doth begin
To sit with mockers in the scornful sates;
Bot in Iehovaes law
Delites aright,
And studies it to knaw
Both day and night.
That man shall bee
Like to the tree
Fast planted by the running river growes;
That frute doth beare,
In tyme of ȝeare;
Whose leafe shall neuer fade, nor rute vnlouse.
Ȝea, happie than,
By grace that can
Eschew ill counsell and the godles gates;
And walkes not in
The way of sin,
Nor doth begin
To sit with mockers in the scornful sates;
Bot in Iehovaes law
Delites aright,
And studies it to knaw
Both day and night.
That man shall bee
Like to the tree
Fast planted by the running river growes;
That frute doth beare,
In tyme of ȝeare;
Whose leafe shall neuer fade, nor rute vnlouse.
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His actions all
Ay prosper shall:
Which shall not fall
The godles men; bot as the calfe or sand,
That, day by day,
Winde driuth away:
Therefore, I say,
The wicked in the judgement shall not stand;
Nor sinners rise na mair,
Whom God disdaines,
In the assemblie where
The just remaines.
For why? the Lord,
Who bearth record,
Doth know the righteous conuersations ay;
And godles gates,
Which he so hates,
Shall quite die, perish, and doubtlesse decay.
Ay prosper shall:
Which shall not fall
The godles men; bot as the calfe or sand,
That, day by day,
Winde driuth away:
Therefore, I say,
The wicked in the judgement shall not stand;
Nor sinners rise na mair,
Whom God disdaines,
In the assemblie where
The just remaines.
For why? the Lord,
Who bearth record,
Doth know the righteous conuersations ay;
And godles gates,
Which he so hates,
Shall quite die, perish, and doubtlesse decay.
PSALME IIII.
To thee I call,
In my great thrall
And troubles all:
Hear me, O Lord, my God of righteousnesse.
Of mercie free,
Thou hast set mee
At libertie.
Haue mercie, Lord, and rid me from distresse.
O men of mortall name,
How long will ȝee
My glorie turne to shame,
With vanitie?
O sonnes of men,
Why doe ȝe then
Seeke after lies, with the vngodly ghuest?
The Lord aboue
Doth surelie loue
The godlie man, and heareth my request.
In my great thrall
And troubles all:
Hear me, O Lord, my God of righteousnesse.
Of mercie free,
Thou hast set mee
At libertie.
Haue mercie, Lord, and rid me from distresse.
O men of mortall name,
How long will ȝee
My glorie turne to shame,
With vanitie?
O sonnes of men,
Why doe ȝe then
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The Lord aboue
Doth surelie loue
The godlie man, and heareth my request.
In aw therefore,
Giue God the glore,
And sinne no more,
With quyet mynde examine well ȝour heart.
Ȝour sweete incense
Of innocence
With confidence
Bring to the Lord: ȝour selves to him conuert.
The worldlie wretch, all day,
Doth neuer cease
For well and wealth to pray,
This life to ease.
Bot thou, thy grace
And louing face,
With brightfull beames, make on vs, Lord, to shine.
Graunt vs thy light
And fauour bright.
We pray the, Lord, thine eare to vs incline.
Giue God the glore,
And sinne no more,
With quyet mynde examine well ȝour heart.
Ȝour sweete incense
Of innocence
With confidence
Bring to the Lord: ȝour selves to him conuert.
The worldlie wretch, all day,
Doth neuer cease
For well and wealth to pray,
This life to ease.
Bot thou, thy grace
And louing face,
With brightfull beames, make on vs, Lord, to shine.
Graunt vs thy light
And fauour bright.
We pray the, Lord, thine eare to vs incline.
With heart and voice
I will rejoice;
And make my choise
Of this thy grace, before all worldlie care.
This treasure grit
Doth me delite
With joy perfite,
More than the wretch for al his goods and gear;
As granes and grapes so gay,
In tyme of ȝeare,
That filles his heart, I say,
With joyfull cheare.
In rest and peace
I find release;
And wil ly down, and sleepe with sound repose:
For thou, my guarde,
And sure rewarde,
My help, my hope, doest keep me from my foes.
I will rejoice;
And make my choise
Of this thy grace, before all worldlie care.
This treasure grit
Doth me delite
With joy perfite,
More than the wretch for al his goods and gear;
As granes and grapes so gay,
In tyme of ȝeare,
That filles his heart, I say,
With joyfull cheare.
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I find release;
And wil ly down, and sleepe with sound repose:
For thou, my guarde,
And sure rewarde,
My help, my hope, doest keep me from my foes.
PSALME VI.
Lord, I requyre,
That, in thine yre
Fuming as fyre,
Thou me no wayes rebuke, nor ȝet reject.
Though I doe swerue,
And so deserue
That I should sterue,
In mercie, Lord, I pray thee ȝet correct.
For griefe and anguish hes
Me so opprest,
That in my weary bones
I find no rest.
My soule and mynde
Are so sore pynde,
That it I can expresse in no degree.
O Lord, I say,
How long delay
Wilt thou, to cure my woe and miserie?
That, in thine yre
Fuming as fyre,
Thou me no wayes rebuke, nor ȝet reject.
Though I doe swerue,
And so deserue
That I should sterue,
In mercie, Lord, I pray thee ȝet correct.
For griefe and anguish hes
Me so opprest,
That in my weary bones
I find no rest.
My soule and mynde
Are so sore pynde,
That it I can expresse in no degree.
O Lord, I say,
How long delay
Wilt thou, to cure my woe and miserie?
Let thy sweete face
And wonted grace,
In tyme and space
Returne, to free my soule from all her paine:
Not for no thing
That she can bring,
That is condigne;
Bot for thy mercie freely made her gaine.
For why? amongst the dead
Who shall thee praise?
Shall dust and asse in earth
Thy glorie blaise?
My plaintes trewlie
So grieuous be,
That I am like to swerue, I am so faint.
All night I greet;
My couch I weet
With trickling tears, gusht out with my complaint.
And wonted grace,
In tyme and space
Returne, to free my soule from all her paine:
Not for no thing
That she can bring,
That is condigne;
Bot for thy mercie freely made her gaine.
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Who shall thee praise?
Shall dust and asse in earth
Thy glorie blaise?
My plaintes trewlie
So grieuous be,
That I am like to swerue, I am so faint.
All night I greet;
My couch I weet
With trickling tears, gusht out with my complaint.
Mine eyes dim bee,
And will not see
My sinne trewlie;
And griefe hes so possest my heauie heart,
For feare of those
That be my foes,
And would rejoise
To see my wreak, and would my soule subuert.
Bot now—away, all ȝe
That wicked be!
For the Lord he hath heard
My plaint and crie;
And not onelie
He hath heard me,
Bot granted my request and whole desyre,
And shall my foes
In tyme disclose,
And them confound with shame in his hote yre.
And will not see
My sinne trewlie;
And griefe hes so possest my heauie heart,
For feare of those
That be my foes,
And would rejoise
To see my wreak, and would my soule subuert.
Bot now—away, all ȝe
That wicked be!
For the Lord he hath heard
My plaint and crie;
And not onelie
He hath heard me,
Bot granted my request and whole desyre,
And shall my foes
In tyme disclose,
And them confound with shame in his hote yre.
PSALME VIII.
Iehova, Lord,
Who can record,
In writ or word,
Thy name so great on earth and euerie where?
Which thou hast plaist,
As pleasde thee best,
And worthiest,
Aboue the heauens and christall cleared aire.
Thou makes thy laude and praise,
Thy strength and might,
From breath of babes to rise,
Both day and night.
In suckling anes
Thy grace remaines
For to be seene, and beautie excellent;
The mouth to close
Of godlesse foes,
That readie are to slay the innocent.
Who can record,
In writ or word,
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Which thou hast plaist,
As pleasde thee best,
And worthiest,
Aboue the heauens and christall cleared aire.
Thou makes thy laude and praise,
Thy strength and might,
From breath of babes to rise,
Both day and night.
In suckling anes
Thy grace remaines
For to be seene, and beautie excellent;
The mouth to close
Of godlesse foes,
That readie are to slay the innocent.
When I behold
The high heauens mould,
That doth vnfold
Thy wondrous works by thy owne fingers wrought;
The moone so bright,
And starrie light,
That shines by night,
With gleaming fires, all formed out of noght;
What thing is mortal wight,
Then do I say,
Of whome thou, Lord of might,
Are myndfull ay?
The sonne of man,
What is he than,
Whom thou by grace doest choose and beautifie?
Ȝet little lesse,
I must confesse,
Thou hast him made, than angels, in degree;
The high heauens mould,
That doth vnfold
Thy wondrous works by thy owne fingers wrought;
The moone so bright,
And starrie light,
That shines by night,
With gleaming fires, all formed out of noght;
What thing is mortal wight,
Then do I say,
Of whome thou, Lord of might,
Are myndfull ay?
The sonne of man,
What is he than,
Whom thou by grace doest choose and beautifie?
Ȝet little lesse,
I must confesse,
Thou hast him made, than angels, in degree;
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And thou his name
And glorious frame
Exalts with fame,
And crownes his head with royall Majestie;
And, as a King,
Him sets, to raigne
Ouer euerie thing,
That life, breath, forme, and shape, hath taine of thee;
As sheepe, oxe, horse, and beast
That feeds on land;
Ȝea, all such things are preast
At his command;
The fishe that swym
With out-spred fin,
And fowls, each one, that haunt into the aire:
Iehova, Lord,
Who can record
Thy name, so great on earth and euery wher?
And glorious frame
Exalts with fame,
And crownes his head with royall Majestie;
And, as a King,
Him sets, to raigne
Ouer euerie thing,
That life, breath, forme, and shape, hath taine of thee;
As sheepe, oxe, horse, and beast
That feeds on land;
Ȝea, all such things are preast
At his command;
The fishe that swym
With out-spred fin,
And fowls, each one, that haunt into the aire:
Iehova, Lord,
Who can record
Thy name, so great on earth and euery wher?
PSALME XV.
O Lord, who shall
Thy tent indwall
Celestiall?
Who shall abide within thine holie hill?
That walks in light,
And doth that's right,
With all his might;
His brother's name doth not reproach and spill;
Nor ȝet can heare his fame,
In any sort,
To be imparde with blame
Or false report:
That doth abstaine
From euerie meane
And wrongful way to work his neighbour wo;
And in whose sight
The wicked wight,
That God despytes, despyted is also:
Thy tent indwall
Celestiall?
Who shall abide within thine holie hill?
That walks in light,
And doth that's right,
With all his might;
His brother's name doth not reproach and spill;
Nor ȝet can heare his fame,
In any sort,
To be imparde with blame
Or false report:
That doth abstaine
From euerie meane
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And in whose sight
The wicked wight,
That God despytes, despyted is also:
Bot such as loue
The Lord aboue,
He doth approue,
And honours them with loue and reuerence:
That band doth make,
And will not breake,
For loose nor lacke
That may ensue, nor any such pretence;
Nor ȝet doth put his coyne
To vsurie;
Nor the just cause purloyne,
Through bryberie.
Who means, right so,
These thinges to do,
And steadfastlie doth keepe the perfite way;
As Syon Hill
He shall stand still,
And neuer moue, nor perishe, or decay.
The Lord aboue,
He doth approue,
And honours them with loue and reuerence:
That band doth make,
And will not breake,
For loose nor lacke
That may ensue, nor any such pretence;
Nor ȝet doth put his coyne
To vsurie;
Nor the just cause purloyne,
Through bryberie.
Who means, right so,
These thinges to do,
And steadfastlie doth keepe the perfite way;
As Syon Hill
He shall stand still,
And neuer moue, nor perishe, or decay.
PSALME XIX.
The firmament,
And heauens out-stent,
So excellent,
Thy handywork and glorious praise proclaim:
Each day to day
Succeeding ay
In their array,
And night to night, by course, doe preache the same.
No sound of breath nor speach
Of men haue they,
Ȝet eueriewhere they preache
Thy praise, I say.
Their lyne goeth out
The earth about:
Their voice is heard throughout the world so wide.
There he a throne
Set for the sunne,
And paylion plight, his mansion to abide;
And heauens out-stent,
So excellent,
Thy handywork and glorious praise proclaim:
Each day to day
Succeeding ay
In their array,
And night to night, by course, doe preache the same.
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Of men haue they,
Ȝet eueriewhere they preache
Thy praise, I say.
Their lyne goeth out
The earth about:
Their voice is heard throughout the world so wide.
There he a throne
Set for the sunne,
And paylion plight, his mansion to abide;
Who, like a groome
Of great renoume,
Right braue doth come
From chamber straight, with comlie countenance;
Or, like a knight
In pleasant plight,
Doth haste with might
To runne the race, his honor to aduance.
His rysing and his race,
It doth appeare
Euen from the out-most space
Of heauens spheare.
Then hes he taine
His course againe,
Through aȝurde sky, by reuolution right.
Nothing can be
Hid from the eye
And burning beames of that great lampe of light.
Of great renoume,
Right braue doth come
From chamber straight, with comlie countenance;
Or, like a knight
In pleasant plight,
Doth haste with might
To runne the race, his honor to aduance.
His rysing and his race,
It doth appeare
Euen from the out-most space
Of heauens spheare.
Then hes he taine
His course againe,
Through aȝurde sky, by reuolution right.
Nothing can be
Hid from the eye
And burning beames of that great lampe of light.
God's word is cleare;
His law sinceere,
And most enteere,
The sinfull soule to him for to conuert:
His precepts pure,
Both firme and sure,
And can allure,
And make right wise the sober simple heart.
Thy ways and statutes all
Are righteousnesse,
Which glad the soules in thrall,
With joyfulnesse:
They giue cleare light
To our blinde sight.
Thy feare is pure, and euer permanent:
Thou cannot rew:
Thy judgments trew
And righteous are, O Lord Omnipotent.
His law sinceere,
And most enteere,
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His precepts pure,
Both firme and sure,
And can allure,
And make right wise the sober simple heart.
Thy ways and statutes all
Are righteousnesse,
Which glad the soules in thrall,
With joyfulnesse:
They giue cleare light
To our blinde sight.
Thy feare is pure, and euer permanent:
Thou cannot rew:
Thy judgments trew
And righteous are, O Lord Omnipotent.
Much gold of price,
Refyned twyce,
Ȝea, more than thryce,
Is not in worth with them for to be valude:
The honie white,
Pure and perfite,
Mouing delite,
Is not so sweete, nor so much to be craued.
They make thy seruants wise
And circumspect;
And, what to enterprise,
They him direct.
In keeping them,
Great is the gaine,
And rich rewarde, for such lade vp for euer.
Bot who can count
Sinnes that surmount?
From secreet sins, good Lord, my soule deliuer.
Refyned twyce,
Ȝea, more than thryce,
Is not in worth with them for to be valude:
The honie white,
Pure and perfite,
Mouing delite,
Is not so sweete, nor so much to be craued.
They make thy seruants wise
And circumspect;
And, what to enterprise,
They him direct.
In keeping them,
Great is the gaine,
And rich rewarde, for such lade vp for euer.
Bot who can count
Sinnes that surmount?
From secreet sins, good Lord, my soule deliuer.
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O Lord, vouchsaue,
I humblie craue,
Me for to saue,
And cleanse my hart from proud presumptuous sin:
Then shall I bee
From sinnes set free,
That troubles mee.
Preserue me, Lord, that I walke not therein;
And let them not preuaile,
Me to possesse:
Then I will, without faile,
Loue righteousnesse.
Accept my plaint,
Which I present
Before thy sight, with humble hart and voice.
My strength and stay
Thou art for ay,
And Sauiour sweete, in whom I do rejoyce.
I humblie craue,
Me for to saue,
And cleanse my hart from proud presumptuous sin:
Then shall I bee
From sinnes set free,
That troubles mee.
Preserue me, Lord, that I walke not therein;
And let them not preuaile,
Me to possesse:
Then I will, without faile,
Loue righteousnesse.
Accept my plaint,
Which I present
Before thy sight, with humble hart and voice.
My strength and stay
Thou art for ay,
And Sauiour sweete, in whom I do rejoyce.
PSALME XXIII.
The Lord most hie,
I know, will be
An heyrde to me:
I can not long haue stresse, nor stand in neede.
He makes my leare
In feelds so fare,
That without care
I doe repose, and at my pleasure feede.
He sweetlie me conuoyes
To pleasant springes,
Where nothing me annoyes,
But pleasure bringes.
He giues my minde
Peace in such kinde,
That feare of foes nor force can not me reaue.
By him I am lead
In perfite tread;
And, for his name, he will me neuer leaue.
I know, will be
An heyrde to me:
I can not long haue stresse, nor stand in neede.
He makes my leare
In feelds so fare,
That without care
I doe repose, and at my pleasure feede.
He sweetlie me conuoyes
To pleasant springes,
Where nothing me annoyes,
But pleasure bringes.
He giues my minde
Peace in such kinde,
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By him I am lead
In perfite tread;
And, for his name, he will me neuer leaue.
Though I should stay,
Euen day by day,
In deadlie way,
Ȝet would I be assurde, and fear no ill;
For why? thy grace,
In euerie place,
Doth me imbrace;
Thy rod and shiphirds-crook comforts me still.
In despyte of my foe,
My table growes.
Thou balmes my head with ioy:
My cuppe ouerflowes:
Kindnesse and grace,
Mercie and peace,
Shall follow me, for all my wretched dayes;
Then endles joy
Shall me conuoy
To heauen, where I with thee shall be alwaies.
Euen day by day,
In deadlie way,
Ȝet would I be assurde, and fear no ill;
For why? thy grace,
In euerie place,
Doth me imbrace;
Thy rod and shiphirds-crook comforts me still.
In despyte of my foe,
My table growes.
Thou balmes my head with ioy:
My cuppe ouerflowes:
Kindnesse and grace,
Mercie and peace,
Shall follow me, for all my wretched dayes;
Then endles joy
Shall me conuoy
To heauen, where I with thee shall be alwaies.
PSALME XLIII.
O Lord of grace,
Iudge thou my cace:
From thy high place,
My cause reuenge against my deadlie foes.
From wicked traine
Of fraudfull men
That thee misken,
Saue me, O Lord, for I in thee rejoise.
Thou art my God and aide,
My strength and stay;
Why go I then dismaide
In this array?
Why shouldst thou mee
Reject from thee,
As pray to those that seeke my soul to spill?
Send out thy light,
Thy treuth, and right;
And guide my wayes vnto thy holie hill:
Iudge thou my cace:
From thy high place,
My cause reuenge against my deadlie foes.
From wicked traine
Of fraudfull men
That thee misken,
Saue me, O Lord, for I in thee rejoise.
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My strength and stay;
Why go I then dismaide
In this array?
Why shouldst thou mee
Reject from thee,
As pray to those that seeke my soul to spill?
Send out thy light,
Thy treuth, and right;
And guide my wayes vnto thy holie hill:
Then will I to
Thine altar goe,
Not fearing foe,
With harp in hand, to sing thy praise for euer.
My God so deare,
My joy and cheare,
Who doest me heare,
With readie help do now my soule deliuer.
My soule, why doest thou freate
Thus in my breast,
With grudging griefe ouer-set,
Not taking rest?
In God most just
Set all thy trust;
And call on him with all thy stresse and greefe.
I will alwayes
Him laude and praise:
He is my God, my helpe, my whole releefe.
Thine altar goe,
Not fearing foe,
With harp in hand, to sing thy praise for euer.
My God so deare,
My joy and cheare,
Who doest me heare,
With readie help do now my soule deliuer.
My soule, why doest thou freate
Thus in my breast,
With grudging griefe ouer-set,
Not taking rest?
In God most just
Set all thy trust;
And call on him with all thy stresse and greefe.
I will alwayes
Him laude and praise:
He is my God, my helpe, my whole releefe.
PSALME LVII.
Have reuth on me—
Haue reuth on me,
O Lord, from hie,
Haue mercy, Lord: in thee my soule doth trust:
Vntill at last
This stormie blast
Be ouer-past,
In shadow of thy winges my hope shall rest.
On God most high I call,
My heart's delyte;
Who will his promise all
To me perfite.
From heauen's throne,
He will send downe,
And saue me from the sharp rebuke and shame
Of cruell foes
That me inclose:
His mercie sure shall keepe me from al blame.
Haue reuth on me,
O Lord, from hie,
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Vntill at last
This stormie blast
Be ouer-past,
In shadow of thy winges my hope shall rest.
On God most high I call,
My heart's delyte;
Who will his promise all
To me perfite.
From heauen's throne,
He will send downe,
And saue me from the sharp rebuke and shame
Of cruell foes
That me inclose:
His mercie sure shall keepe me from al blame.
I lie beset
With lyons net;
And men are met,
In fyrie rage, my seelie soule to catch;
Whose teeth, I weene,
Like arrowes keene
Are to be seene;
Their tongues like swordes, some mischeef for to hatch.
Exalt thy selfe, therefore,
The heauens aboue:
On earth shew forth thy glore,
And power proue.
A snare is made,
And grins are laide,
My steps to trap, my fate to fold withall.
I am opprest:
A ditche is drest
For me—bot, loe! my foes therein doe fall.
With lyons net;
And men are met,
In fyrie rage, my seelie soule to catch;
Whose teeth, I weene,
Like arrowes keene
Are to be seene;
Their tongues like swordes, some mischeef for to hatch.
Exalt thy selfe, therefore,
The heauens aboue:
On earth shew forth thy glore,
And power proue.
A snare is made,
And grins are laide,
My steps to trap, my fate to fold withall.
I am opprest:
A ditche is drest
For me—bot, loe! my foes therein doe fall.
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My heart is bent,
And permanent,
With full intent
To praise the Lord, and to extoll his name.
“My tongue,” alway
“Awake,” I say,
By breake of day:
“My harpe, in haste, and viole, doe the same.”
I will thee praise among
The people all:
As God and Lord most strong
Thee praise I shall.
Thy mercies grit,
And treuth perfite
Doe reache vnto the heauens and cloudie sky:
Exalt, therefore,
Thy name and glore
Aboue the clouds and limites of the day.
And permanent,
With full intent
To praise the Lord, and to extoll his name.
“My tongue,” alway
“Awake,” I say,
By breake of day:
“My harpe, in haste, and viole, doe the same.”
I will thee praise among
The people all:
As God and Lord most strong
Thee praise I shall.
Thy mercies grit,
And treuth perfite
Doe reache vnto the heauens and cloudie sky:
Exalt, therefore,
Thy name and glore
Aboue the clouds and limites of the day.
PSALME XCI.
Who doth confyde,
And so abyde,
All tyme and tyde,
In secreete and in shade of the Most High,
He may well say,
“God is my stay
And strength alway—
My faith, my hope, in whom my trust doth lie.”
He shall thee keepe and fence
From hunter's snare,
From cruell pestilence,
And all such feare;
And shall the hide
On euerie side,
In shadow safe and couert of his winges:
His treuth, most sure
Ay to indure,
Thy sheeld shal be, against all noysome things.
And so abyde,
All tyme and tyde,
In secreete and in shade of the Most High,
He may well say,
“God is my stay
And strength alway—
My faith, my hope, in whom my trust doth lie.”
He shall thee keepe and fence
From hunter's snare,
From cruell pestilence,
And all such feare;
And shall the hide
On euerie side,
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His treuth, most sure
Ay to indure,
Thy sheeld shal be, against all noysome things.
Thou shalt not care
For any feare,
By night or eare;
Or, noone-day bright, for the swift fleing dart:
No fearefull pest
That may molest
By night shall rest
On thee; nor plague by day that falles athwart.
Although a thousand men,
Before thine eye—
Yea, more than thousands ten,
Should fall hard by;
None ill at all
Shall thee befall;
No dangerous death, nor dread shall come thee neare:
Bot wicked anes,
That God disdaines,
He will rewarde; as thou shalt see most clear.
For any feare,
By night or eare;
Or, noone-day bright, for the swift fleing dart:
No fearefull pest
That may molest
By night shall rest
On thee; nor plague by day that falles athwart.
Although a thousand men,
Before thine eye—
Yea, more than thousands ten,
Should fall hard by;
None ill at all
Shall thee befall;
No dangerous death, nor dread shall come thee neare:
Bot wicked anes,
That God disdaines,
He will rewarde; as thou shalt see most clear.
Be not affraide,
Sence thou hast said,
“God is mine aide,”
And the Most High hast set for thy refuge.
No harme nor hurt
Within thy court
Shall doe thee sturt;
No skaith shall come within thy tent to ludge:
For he his angels bright
Hath geuen command,
To keep thee, day and night,
On euerie hand;
And, by their arme,
To saue from harme,
And stay thy steps from stumbling at a stone.
Thou shalt down-tread
The dragon's head—
The lyons fearce—the aspes—their ȝong, each one;
Sence thou hast said,
“God is mine aide,”
And the Most High hast set for thy refuge.
No harme nor hurt
Within thy court
Shall doe thee sturt;
No skaith shall come within thy tent to ludge:
For he his angels bright
Hath geuen command,
To keep thee, day and night,
On euerie hand;
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To saue from harme,
And stay thy steps from stumbling at a stone.
Thou shalt down-tread
The dragon's head—
The lyons fearce—the aspes—their ȝong, each one;
Because the Lord,
Of his accord,
Hath said the word:—
“I will him saue and send deliuerance.
He doth adore,
And loue my glore;
I will therefore
Him,” saith the Lord, “to honor high aduance.
When he shall on me call
In tyme of neede,
I will from dangers all
Rid him with speede;
And him defend
And succour send,
In troubles all; and then him glorifie
I will alwayes
Prolong his dayes;
And he, doubtlesse, my sauing health shall see.”
Of his accord,
Hath said the word:—
“I will him saue and send deliuerance.
He doth adore,
And loue my glore;
I will therefore
Him,” saith the Lord, “to honor high aduance.
When he shall on me call
In tyme of neede,
I will from dangers all
Rid him with speede;
And him defend
And succour send,
In troubles all; and then him glorifie
I will alwayes
Prolong his dayes;
And he, doubtlesse, my sauing health shall see.”
PSALME CI.
Now will I sing
To thee, O King,
Aboue all thing,
Of mercie mixt with judgement righteous.
In perfite way,
I will me stay;
Awaiting ay
Vntill thou come, my God most gratious.
In mynde and heart vpright,
I will begin
To walke before thy sight,
My house within.
No wickednesse
Shall me possesse.
The sinner's worke I hate with all disdaine.
Nor ill at all
Shall with me dwall;
Mine heart, mine hand, from such I will refrain.
To thee, O King,
Aboue all thing,
Of mercie mixt with judgement righteous.
In perfite way,
I will me stay;
Awaiting ay
Vntill thou come, my God most gratious.
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I will begin
To walke before thy sight,
My house within.
No wickednesse
Shall me possesse.
The sinner's worke I hate with all disdaine.
Nor ill at all
Shall with me dwall;
Mine heart, mine hand, from such I will refrain.
Thou froward heart,
That workes me smart,
From me depart;
Go take thy leaue; for I no ill will know.
Such as defame,
With slanderous blame,
Their neighbour's name,
I will destroy, and them no mercie show.
The proud presumptuous ghuest,
With loftie looke,
And hautie minde possest,
I can not brooke.
Myne heart, myne eye,
Shall euer be
Vpon the just and faithfull of the land.
They shall abyde
All tyme and tyde
Within thy court, to serue at thy command:
That workes me smart,
From me depart;
Go take thy leaue; for I no ill will know.
Such as defame,
With slanderous blame,
Their neighbour's name,
I will destroy, and them no mercie show.
The proud presumptuous ghuest,
With loftie looke,
And hautie minde possest,
I can not brooke.
Myne heart, myne eye,
Shall euer be
Vpon the just and faithfull of the land.
They shall abyde
All tyme and tyde
Within thy court, to serue at thy command:
The man, I say,
That doth not stray
From the right way,
I will aduance, in honour to excell.
The guilefull man,
That no good can,
Bot lie and faine,
Out of mine house with speed I will expell.
I will cut out, by tyme,
Out of the land,
All the rebellious trayne
And godlesse band.
And I doe meane
For to maintaine
God's holie house, and sacred cittie, free;
That wicked men
May not remaine
Within his gates, for their iniquitie.
That doth not stray
From the right way,
I will aduance, in honour to excell.
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That no good can,
Bot lie and faine,
Out of mine house with speed I will expell.
I will cut out, by tyme,
Out of the land,
All the rebellious trayne
And godlesse band.
And I doe meane
For to maintaine
God's holie house, and sacred cittie, free;
That wicked men
May not remaine
Within his gates, for their iniquitie.
PSALME CXVII.
O nations all,Both great and small,
With Israell,
Vnto the Lorde, sing laude and lasting praise:
Exalt his name,
And glorious fame
Alwhere proclame;
For why? his grace and glore abides alwaies:
He doth his tender loue
To vs extend;
As well, each day, we proue:
It hath no end.
This mightie Lord,
In worke and word,
Is constant, sure; his treuth cannot decay.
Giue him, therefore,
All laude and glore,
Who doth on vs his loue and grace display.
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PSALME CXXI.
When I behold
These montanes cold,
Can I be bold
To take my journey through this wildernesse,
Wherein doth stand,
On eyther hand,
A bloudie band,
To cut me off with cruell craftinesse?
Heere, subtle Sathan's slight
Doth me assaill:
Ther, his proud worldly might
Thinks to preuaill.
In euerie place,
With pleasant face,
The snares of sinne besets me round about;
With poysone sweete
To slay the spirite,
Conspyred all, to take my life, no doubt.
These montanes cold,
Can I be bold
To take my journey through this wildernesse,
Wherein doth stand,
On eyther hand,
A bloudie band,
To cut me off with cruell craftinesse?
Heere, subtle Sathan's slight
Doth me assaill:
Ther, his proud worldly might
Thinks to preuaill.
In euerie place,
With pleasant face,
The snares of sinne besets me round about;
With poysone sweete
To slay the spirite,
Conspyred all, to take my life, no doubt.
But God is hee
Will succour mee,
And let me see
His sauing health ay readie at command:
Euen Iehova,
That creat al,
Both great and smal,
In heauen and aire, and in the sea and land.
Freat not, my fearefull heart,
My breast within:
This God will take thy part,
Thy course to rin.
He will thee guyde;
Thou shalt not slyde;
Thy feet shall steadfast stand in the right way:
He will thee keepe;
He will not sleepe,
Nor suffer foes to catch thee as a pray.
Will succour mee,
And let me see
His sauing health ay readie at command:
Euen Iehova,
That creat al,
Both great and smal,
In heauen and aire, and in the sea and land.
Freat not, my fearefull heart,
My breast within:
This God will take thy part,
Thy course to rin.
He will thee guyde;
Thou shalt not slyde;
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He will thee keepe;
He will not sleepe,
Nor suffer foes to catch thee as a pray.
The Lord doth keepe
Israel his sheepe,
And will not sleepe.
Beneath his shadow thou shalt saiflie ly.
Right sure and firme,
With his right arme,
Saue the from harme
He shall; and all thy fearefull foes defy.
The day, hote sunnes offence
Shall not thee greeue;
Nor cold moones influence,
By night, the moue.
God, of his grace,
From his high place,
Shall saue thee from all ill: in euerie way
Thou goes about,
Both in and out,
He shall the blesse and prosper, now and ay.
Israel his sheepe,
And will not sleepe.
Beneath his shadow thou shalt saiflie ly.
Right sure and firme,
With his right arme,
Saue the from harme
He shall; and all thy fearefull foes defy.
The day, hote sunnes offence
Shall not thee greeue;
Nor cold moones influence,
By night, the moue.
God, of his grace,
From his high place,
Shall saue thee from all ill: in euerie way
Thou goes about,
Both in and out,
He shall the blesse and prosper, now and ay.
PSALME CXXV.
As Sion Hill,
That's firme and still,
And neuer will
Nor can remoue, through danger of decay,
So that man shall,
Lord, with thee dwall,
Fearing no fall,
Who trustes in thee; and shall indure for ay.
Like mountaines round about
Ierusalem,
Iehova so, no doubt,
Shall couer him.
The rod and ȝocke
Of God's owne flocke
Shall not ay rest vpon the godlie race;
Lest they, through griefe,
Without releefe,
The wandring waies of wicked men imbrace.
That's firme and still,
And neuer will
Nor can remoue, through danger of decay,
So that man shall,
Lord, with thee dwall,
Fearing no fall,
Who trustes in thee; and shall indure for ay.
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Ierusalem,
Iehova so, no doubt,
Shall couer him.
The rod and ȝocke
Of God's owne flocke
Shall not ay rest vpon the godlie race;
Lest they, through griefe,
Without releefe,
The wandring waies of wicked men imbrace.
O Lord, our God,
Remoue thy rod!
Make not abode
From such as feare thy name with perfite hart,
And walke vpright,
Before thy sight,
In thy trew light:
Thy grace, their guyde, let not from them depart.
Bot such as slide abacke
In crooked wayes,
The Lord shall ouertake,
With sudden frayes:
Their lot and part
Shall be, in smart,
With sinfull men, that perishe in thy rage.
With Israell,
Thy peace let dwell,
O blessed Lord! to last from age to age.
Remoue thy rod!
Make not abode
From such as feare thy name with perfite hart,
And walke vpright,
Before thy sight,
In thy trew light:
Thy grace, their guyde, let not from them depart.
Bot such as slide abacke
In crooked wayes,
The Lord shall ouertake,
With sudden frayes:
Their lot and part
Shall be, in smart,
With sinfull men, that perishe in thy rage.
With Israell,
Thy peace let dwell,
O blessed Lord! to last from age to age.
PSALME CXXVIII.
O blest is hee
That feareth thee,
O Lord, most hie,
And doth obserue thy constant will and way!
O well to him
That hath begun
This course to run!
His labour shall him pleasant frute repay.
To his great joyes encrease,
In reuthfull neede,
Iehova will him dresse,
His life to feede.
His wife shall bee
Like to the tree
That growes full gay, fast by his houses side:
His children fair,
Like olyues rare,
His table shall decore, both tyme and tyde.
That feareth thee,
O Lord, most hie,
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O well to him
That hath begun
This course to run!
His labour shall him pleasant frute repay.
To his great joyes encrease,
In reuthfull neede,
Iehova will him dresse,
His life to feede.
His wife shall bee
Like to the tree
That growes full gay, fast by his houses side:
His children fair,
Like olyues rare,
His table shall decore, both tyme and tyde.
Such man's successe
And happinesse
Shall still increase,
As feares thee, O Lord most righteous:
Thou will not misse
Right so to blesse
Both him and his,
With riches rare, and pleasure plenteous.
From Sion's holie Hill,
Thou shalt see then,
To stand, and flourish still,
Ierusalem.
Thy race and seede
Shall budde and breed,
Before thine eyes, in happie state and store.
With Israell
And Iuda, shall
Thy peace, O Lord, abyde for euer more.
And happinesse
Shall still increase,
As feares thee, O Lord most righteous:
Thou will not misse
Right so to blesse
Both him and his,
With riches rare, and pleasure plenteous.
From Sion's holie Hill,
Thou shalt see then,
To stand, and flourish still,
Ierusalem.
Thy race and seede
Shall budde and breed,
Before thine eyes, in happie state and store.
With Israell
And Iuda, shall
Thy peace, O Lord, abyde for euer more.
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THE SONG OF SIMEON.
Since that mine eye,
Before I die,
O Lord doth see
Thine holie one—our hope and onelie stay—
Whom thou hast send,
In latter end,
For to extend
Thy mercies great, that doe endure for ay;
Then let thy seruant, Lord,
Depart in peace;
And me, of thine accord,
Send to my place;
As thou hast said,
And promise made,
That can not faile nor fall in vaine away:
For I rejoyce,
In heart and voyce,
That I haue seene thy sauing health this day;
Before I die,
O Lord doth see
Thine holie one—our hope and onelie stay—
Whom thou hast send,
In latter end,
For to extend
Thy mercies great, that doe endure for ay;
Then let thy seruant, Lord,
Depart in peace;
And me, of thine accord,
Send to my place;
As thou hast said,
And promise made,
That can not faile nor fall in vaine away:
For I rejoyce,
In heart and voyce,
That I haue seene thy sauing health this day;
Whom thou, a light,
Hast set, full bright,
Before the sight
Of Gentiles far, and people round about;
And sendst with grace,
Sinne to deface,
And glorious peace
For to proclame, the earth and world throughout;
And, as thy prophetes told,
A signe to bee,
For nations to behold
With faithfull eye;
In speciall
Thine Israel
To rid from thral, and saue them by his might;
That he, their glore,
For euer more
On Sion Hill may shine in beautie bright.
Hast set, full bright,
Before the sight
Of Gentiles far, and people round about;
And sendst with grace,
Sinne to deface,
And glorious peace
For to proclame, the earth and world throughout;
And, as thy prophetes told,
A signe to bee,
For nations to behold
With faithfull eye;
In speciall
Thine Israel
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That he, their glore,
For euer more
On Sion Hill may shine in beautie bright.
GLORIA PATRI.
O King of Kings,In heauen that rings
Aboue all things,
Thy people chosen of thine onelie grace,
To raigne with thee
Eternallie,
Them sanctifie,
Into thy sweete and euerlasting peace.
Laude to the Trinitie,
On which we call!
Our God, in persons three,
Surmounting all.
Fountaine profound!
All praise redound
To thee, O Father, with thy Son most sweete!
That Prince of glore
Did vs restore;
Likewise all praise be to the Holie Spirite!
Gloria in excelsis Deo. Amen.
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