The .lxix. Psalme.
Helpe
me (O God) for I am lyke to perishe out of hand:
For I do syncke into the myer, where is no place to stande.
Into depe waters I am fallen, which do me ouer flowe:
I am werie wyth lowde criynge, my throte wareth drye nowe.
Wyth ofte lokynge vp to my God, myne eies begyne to fayle:
And they that hate me wythout cause, are now lyke to preuayle.
For they are moe in numbre then the heyres are on myne head:
Wherby they cause me to paye that I neuer receiued.
What ignoraunce hath caused me, to do Lord thou doeste see:
My synnes Lorde and my wyckednes, are not vnknowne to the.
O God of hostes, let not them that to the wyth fayth repare:
Haue cause by that they see in me, to fall into dispeare.
For in thy cause do I suffer, all this rebuke and shame:
And am caste out from my kynred, & made straynge to the same.
The thought that I take for thy house, is greate breakynge to me:
And I take all such wordes to herte, as men speake agaynst the.
If I dyd euer faste or wepe, my bodye for to tame:
The same hathe ben caste in my teeth, as a thynge worthy blame.
I lapte my bodie in sack cloth, and ware it for a coate:
And then began they sor to skoffe and ieste at me I wotte.
Yea they that sate in the towne gates the rulars and the kynges:
Iested at me, and the drunckardes made thē songes of these thynges.
But I make my prayer to the (O Lorde) that I ne mysse:
Of helpe through thy goodnes and trueth, when thy good pleasure is.
Pulle me out of the depe myer, and from drownynge me kepe:
Deliuer me from enimies & from the waters depe.
Leste the surges do ouerflowe, and the syncke swalowe me:
And the depe pytte shutte vp his mouth, whē I shall therin be.
O Lorde graunt my requeste to me, euen for thy goodnes sake:
And as thy mercies are man y, oon me pitie take.
Hyde not thy face from thy seruant, for I am nowe troubled:
Make haste (O God) & shortly let my request be graunted.
O Lorde drawe nygh vnto my soule, let it be salfe through the:
And because of myne enimies, Lord God deliuer me.
Thou knowest what rebuke I do byde, what shame and dishonour:
For all they that do trouble me, are in thy syght ech houre.
Through the rebuke myne herte is broke and heauie is my mynde:
I loke for some to pitie me, but no conforte I fynde.
They dyd geue me gall in my meate, and when I was thyrsty:
They gaue me vinager to dryncke, such was theyr crueltie.
Let theyr table be made a snare, to take themselfes wyth all:
And where they trust to lyue in peace, ther let them take a fall.
Darken the eies of theyr iudgment, lest they would loke and see:
Make theyr loynes weake and breake theyr backes, that thus haue done to me.
Poure out thy wrath on them & let thyne hotte anger them quell:
Let theyr houses be made deserte, and none therin to dwell.
For when thou hast striken a man, they persecute hym styll:
And suche men as thou haste wounded, they endeuour to kyll.
Let them encrease in wyckednes, & neuer se iustice:
Wype them out of the boke lyfe, from emōge the rightwise.
As for me, syth I am afflict and sorowfull of mynd:
His salfgard in thyne health (O God) let thy pore seruant fynd.
Then shall I prayse goddes; holy name, wyth most ioyfull syngynge:
and shall magnifie the same with most hertie thanckes geuynge.
This thynge is more accepted, wyth the Lorde and doeth hym moue:
Much more then to offer a calfe that hath boeth horne and houe.
O yet that lyue in miserie, se thys thynge and be glad:
For ye that seke God ernestly, shal not in hert be sad.
For the Lorde heareth the nedie, in most mercifull wyse:
Hys bondmen and hys prisoners, he doeth neuer despise.
The heauens, the earth, and eke the seas, and all that therin crepe:
Shall prayse the Lord in his doynges, and of his wordes take kepe.
For the Lord shall preserue Sion, & Iudes cities restore:
That men may dwell ther, and possesse that land for euer more.
The neuiews of his seruauntes shall enherite it I saye:
And all that loue his holy name shall dwell therin for aye.
