University of Virginia Library

XCIV
Psalm 37.

Noli emulare in maligna

Altho thow se th'owtragius clime aloft,
Envie not thowe his blinde prosperitye;
The welth of wretches tho it semith soft,
Move not thy hert by theyre felicitye.
They shalbe found like grasse turnd into hay,
And as the herbes that wither sodenlye.
Stablisshe thy trust in god, seke right allway,
And on the yerth thowe shalte inhabite longe;
Fede and encreace such hope from day to day,
And if with god thow time thy hartie songe
He shal the giue what soo thy hart can lust.
Cast vppon god thy will that right thy wrong;
Gyve him the charge for he vpright and iust
Hath cure of the and of thy cares all,
And he shall make thy trowgh to be discust
Bright as the sonne, and thy rightwisnes shall
(The cursids welth, tho now do it deface)
Shine like the daylight, that we the none call.
Paciently abide the Lordes assured grace;
Bere with even minde the trouble that he sendes
Dismay the not tho thou se the purchace
Encresse of some, for such like lucke god sendes
To wicked folke [OMITTED]
Restrayne thy mind from wrath that ay offendes;
Do way all rage, and se thou do eschew
By theire like dede suche dedes for to committ:
For wikked folke theire overthrow shal rewe.
Who pacientlie abid and do not flitt,
They shall possede the world from heire to hayre:
The wikked shall of all his welth be quitt
So sodainly and that without repaire
That all his pompe and his staring aray
Shall from thyn Iye departe as blast of ayre.
The sobre thenne the world shall weld, I say,
And live in welth and pes soo plentifull.
Him to distroy the wikked shall assay
And gnasshe his teethe eke with girninge yrefull.
The Lord shall scorne the threatninges of the wretche,
Ffor he doth know the tyde is nighe at full
When he shall syncke and no hand shall hym seeche.
They have vnsheathed eke their blouddy bronds
And bent theire bowe to prove if they might reach
To overthrowe the [OMITTED]
Bare of relief the harmelesse to devoure.
The sworde shall pearce the hart of suche that fonds;
Their bow shall breake in their moste endevoure.
A litle Livinge gotten rightfullie
Passithe the ritchesse and eke the highe powre
Of that that wretches have gatherd wickedlye.
Pearishe shall the wickedes posteritie,
And god shall stablishe the iuste assuredlye.
The iust mans dayes the Lorde doth know and see,
Their heritage shall laste for evermore,
And of their hope beguylde they shall not be.
When dismolde dayes shall wrappe the tother sore,
They shall be full when other faynte for foode;
Thearwhyl'ste shall faile theise wicked men thearfore.
To godes ennemyes suche end shall be allowdd
As hath lambs greace wastinge in the fyre,
That is consumde into a smokye clowde.
Borow'th th'vniust without will or desyre
To yelde agayne; the iuste freelye dothe geve,
Wheare he seethe neede as marcye dothe requyre.
Who will'the hym well for right thearfore shall leve;
Who bannythe hym shall be rooted awaye;
His steppes shall god directe still and relieve,
And please hym shall what lyf hym lust assaye;
And though he fall vnder foote lye shall not he,
Catchinge his hand for god shall streight hym staye.
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
Nor yet his sede foodelesse seene for to be.
The iuste to all men mercyfull hathe bene,
Busye to do well, thearfore his seede, I saye,
Shall have habundaunce all waye fresshe and grene.
Fflee yll, do good, that thow mayste last all waye,
Ffor god dothe love for evermore th'vpright:
Never his Chosen dothe he cast awaye;
Ffor ever he them myndeth daye and night,
And wicked seede alwaye shall waste to nought:
The iust shall welde the worlde as their owne right,
And longe thearon shall dwell as theye have wrought.
Withe wisdome shall the wyse mans mowthe hym able;
His tongue shall speake alwaye even as it ought;
With godes learning he hathe his harte stable;
His foote thearfore from slydinge shall be sure.
The wicked watchethe the iust for to disable,
And for to sle hym dothe his busye cure;
But god will not suffer hym for to quaile
By tyrannye nor yet bye faulte vnpure
To be condemn'd in iudgement without faile.
Awayte thearfore the commynge of the Lorde;
Live withe his lawes in pacience to prevayle,
And he shall raise the of thyne owne accorde
Above the earth in suretye to beholde
The wickedes deathe that thow maye it recorde.
I have well seene the wicked sheene lyke goolde,
Lustie and greene as lawrell lasting aye;
But even anon and scantt his seate was colde:
When I have paste agayne the self same waye,
Wheare he did raigne he was not to be fownde;
Vanyshte he was for all his fresshe arraye.
Let vprightnes be still thie stedfast grownde.
Ffollowe the right suche one shall alwaye fynde
Hym self in peace and plentie to habounde.
All wicked folke reversyd shall vntwynde,
And wretchidnes shall be the wickedes end:
Healthe to the iuste from god shall be assignde.
He shall them strengthe whome troble shoulde offend.
The Lord shall helpp, I saye, and them delyver
Ffrom curssed handes, and healthe vnto them send,
For that in hym they sett their trust for ever.