University of Virginia Library

Psalm 104.

[Magnănimous, mighti, glorious Lord; my soule shal sing thy praise]

Magnănimous, mighti, glorious Lord; my soule shal sing thy praise:
Whose Greatnes greatest heavĕns surmounts; whose Beauti dims their rays.
Thee, King, imperiăl Glories croun; thee Maiĕsties dread attire:
Magnĭficence thyn whole world refils; high Bliss transcends desire.
Great Lord, my God; eternal Life; Perfection; purest Light;
Unbounded Goodnes; robĕst thy self with beams of glorious sight.
CREATOUR high, first cause of all: Hee beeĭng to all things gave:
Hee Heavĕns like courtains fair disspreds, with stars bespangled brave:
Grand Lights as lamps illuster all. Those lighter Waters, see,
As chambers how midst air he rears: thick Clouds his charriots bee:
On wings of Wynds he swiftly walks: Oft wynds as Angels makes;
And service dire to flying flames of high-bred Fire betakes.
THE Earth midst air hath rarely hangd: yet hangd by rule so sure,
As nevĕr to moove, while light in sun, while stars in skys endure.
It first with cristal robe had helĕd: all Sea, no land was seen;
Deep flouds surrounding highest mounts: no seat for man had been.
But strait at thy rebuke they fly; them thundring voice dooth chase,
Up hill, doun vale, by shortest coorse, to their commanded place:
Vast deep their foming streams receives. Here bounds their surges fynd,
Proud waves to break; here laws from thee their roring rage to bynd.
THUS land from sea ay free remains. Then Springs to land dooth send,
Tween hils which run; fair vales enrich; encreasd to seas descend.
Hence moisture sweet draw flouri medes: hence drink myld cattle take:
Here beasts of field doo quench their thirst; wyld ass dry heat asslake.
By these wingd birds, sweet gests of air, on native arbours mount;
And pleazing notes mongst greeni leafs in cooling shade recount.
THE mountains from his raized lofts with sweet concocted Rain
He watreth so, that rich in fruits all parts of earth remain.
Pure fatnes drops: strait pregnant earth in various robe arraid,
Sees Grass for beasts, sees Herbs for man, as tribute duely paid.
Man thus sustaind, assisted thus; by art derivĕd from high,
By gift of thyn, the earths rich womb t'improove dooth soon apply.
Here Corn, here Vines, there Olives plants; with bread his hart to cheer;
With wine his drooping spĭrits to glad; with oil his face to cleer.
THE Trees of God like blessing draw: the Cedars; which his hand,
Not care of man, on Liban plants; there ages long doo stand.
Here Birds their curious nests doo build: the Storks midst lofti boughs
Of stateli Fir with parted love themselves half strangers houze.
Nought useles stands: to Mountains steep, the Shamois make retreit;
The craggi Rocks, weak Connies shield; thick Woods, give Deer receipt.
LOOK up eftsoons; see changing Moon made changing seazŏns to shew:
The Sun his certain race dooth run; his nightli settings knowe.
Strait darknes black bids light withdraw: withdrawn, the forest mooves:
Wyld beasts in woods that lurk, creep foorth; seek food what each behooves.
Yong Lions rage and roar for prey; from God their meat require:
And fed, at suns return to dens their cooching lims retire.
Then foorth goĕth Man, their Lord by thee: hee at his daili toil,
Deserving so, til eevĕning bides; and earth in earth dooth moil.
O LORD, how manĭfold are thy woorks? high wisdom all did frame:
Thy goods, which earth, which sea doo store, no tong, no thought can name.
The Sea, a place of vast extent, where cralling things abound;
Where swimming beasts both great and small past number all are found:
Here walk the Ships; which worlds whole wealth dispersd by trade unite:
Stands wondring Whale, there made to play; himself more wondrous sight.
THESE creatures all thy care attend, meet food in seazŏn to have.
Thow scattring, they it spars'd colect; larg'd hand, gives all they craue.
If gracious face thou once avert; they troubled all doo moorn:
Their spĭrit withdraw; they breath gasp out, and to their dust return.
If spĭrit of life thy grace send foorth, which world with beĕing endues;
Thow recrëatst his wasted store; so face of earth renues.
BE then, ô glori'ay be to God: Thow praiz'd from thankful voice,
Receive due tribute, gracious Lord: So in thy woorks reioice.
Repair at length worlds great defects; ô thow whose ires consume:
Whose stern aspect shakes trembling earth; whose touch makes mountains fume.
I whilĕst my life, while beĕing dooth last, shal still thy praises sing:
Sweet ioy shal thoughts of thee imbue; ô thow my blisful King.
Let sinners foul, who earth defile, defilĕd have made abhord;
Consumĕd from earth pay vengeance due. Soule myn, praize thow the Lord.