The Whole Booke of Psalmes, collected into Englysh metre by T. Starnhold I. Hopkins & others: conferred with the Ebrue, with apt Notes to synge the[m] withal | ||
The following poems are scored for music in the source text. Where poems are not stanzaic, no attempt has been made to reconstruct the metrical lines. Variations for different voices have been ignored. Repetition marks have been ignored.
Venicreator.
proceding from aboue:
Both from the Father & the son,
the God of peace & loue,
Uisit our mindes & into vs
thy heauenly grace inspire,
that in all truth & godlines,
we may haue true desire.
in all wo and distres:
The heauenly gift of God most highe,
which no tongue can expres.
The fountaine and the liuely springe,
of ioy Celestiall;
The fyre so bright, the loue so cleare,
and vnction spirituall.
wherby Christes church doth stande:
In faythfull hartes writyng thy law,
the finger of Gods hand.
According to thy promise made,
thou geuest speache of grace:
That through thy helpe the prayse of God,
may stande in euery place.
sende downe thy heauenly light:
Kindle our harts with feruent loue,
to serue God day and night.
Strength and stablish all our weaknes,
so feable and so frayle:
That neither flesh, the worlde, nor deuill.
against vs do preuayle.
and graunt vs to obteyne:
Peace in our hartes with God and man.
without grudge or disdayne.
And graunt (O Lorde) that thou beyng,
our leader and our guide:
We may eschewe the snares of sinne
and from thee neuer slide.
good Lorde graunt we thee pray:
That thou maiest be our comforter,
at the last dreadfull day.
Of all strief and discention,
O Lord dissolue the handes:
And make the knots of peace and loue,
the father most of might:
That of his deare beloued sonne,
we may atteyne the sight.
And that with perfect faith also
we may acknowledge thee:
The spirit of them both alway,
one God in persons three.
and to the Sonne equall:
And to the holy spirit also,
one God coeternall.
And pray we that the only sonne,
vouchesafe his Sprit to sende:
To all that doo professe his name,
vnto the worldes ende.
The songe of S. Ambrose, called Te Deum.
We praise thee god, we knowledg thethe only Lord to be,
And as eternal father,
all the earth doth worship the.
To the al angels crye, the heauens
To the Cherub and Seraphin,
To crie they do not linne.
O Holy, Holy, Holy, Lorde,
Of Saboth Lord the God:
Through heauē & earth, thy praise is spred,
And glory all abrode.
Thapostles glorious companye
yelde prayses vnto thee:
The Prophets goodly felowship.
praise thee continually.
The noble and victorious host
Of martirs sounde thy prayse:
The holy churche throughout the world
doth knowledge thee alwayes.
Father of endles maiestie,
they doo acknowledge thee:
Thy Christ, thine honorable, true
and only sonne to be:
The holy Ghost the comforter,
of glory thou art king
O Christ, and of the father arte
the sonne euerlasting.
thou tokest to restore:
To be enclosde in virgins wombe
Thou diddest not abhorre.
When thou hadst ouercome, of death
The sharp and cruell might,
Thou heauens kingdome didst set ope
to eche beleuing wight.
In glory of the father, thou
doest sit on Gods right hand:
We trust that thou shalt come our Iudge,
our cause to vnderstand.
Lorde helpe thy seruaunts whom thou hast
Bought with thy precious bloud
And in eternall glory set
Them with thy sainctes so good.
O Lorde doo thou thy people saue,
Blesse thine inheritaunce.
Lorde gouerne them, and Lord doo thou
for euer them aduaunce.
We magnifie thee day by day,
and world withoutē ende
Addore thy holy name (O Lorde)
vouchesafe vs to defende.
From sinne this day haue mercy Lord,
haue mercy on vs all:
And on vs, as we trust in thee,
Lorde let thy mercy fall.
O Lorde I haue reposed all,
My confidence in thee:
Put to confounding shame therfore
Lord let me neuer be.
The songe of the thre Children praysing God, prouoking all creatures to doo the same.
[1]
O all ye works of god the lordbles ye the Lord prayse him & magnifye
him for euer.
2
O ye the Angels of the Lorde,bles ye the Lorde prayse him and magnifye
hym for euer.
3
O ye the sterry heauens hie,blesse ye the Lorde prayse hym and magnifye
hym for euer.
4
O ye waters aboue the sky,blesse ye the Lorde prayse hym and magnifye
hym for euer.
5
O all ye powers of the Lorde,blesse ye the Lorde prayse hym and magnifye
hym for euer.
6
O ye the shining Son and Mone,blesse ye the Lorde, prayse hym and magnifye
hym for euer.
7
O ye the glistring starres of heauen,blesse ye the Lorde, prayse hym and magnifye
8
O the showers and dropping dew,blesse ye the Lord prayse him and magnifye
him for euer.
9
O ye the blowing wyndes of God,bles ye the Lord prayse him and magnifye
hym for euer.
10
O ye the fire and warming heate,blesse ye the Lord prayse him and magnifye
hym for euer.
11
Ye winter and the sommer tyde,blesse ye the Lord prayse him and magnifye
hym for euer.
12
O ye the dewes and binding frostes,bles ye the lorde prayse him and magnifye
him for euer.
13
O ye the frost and chilling colde,blesse ye the lorde prayse him and magnifye
hym for euer.
14
O ye congeled ise and snow,blesse ye the lorde prayse him and magnifye
hym for euer.
15
O ye the nightes and lightsom dayes,blesse ye the lorde prayse hym and magnifye
hym for euer.
16
O the darknes and the light,blesse ye the lorde prayse him and magnifye
hym for euer.
17
O ye the lightnings and the cloudesblesse ye the lorde prayse him and magnifye
hym for euer.
18
O let the earth eke blesse the lorde,yea bles the lord praise him & magnify
19
O ye the mountaines and the hillesblesse ye the Lord prayse him & magnifye
hym for euer.
20
O all ye grene thinges on the earthblesse ye the Lord praise hym & magnifye
hym for euer.
21
O ye the euer springing welles,bles ye the Lorde prayse him and magnifye
him for euer.
22
O ye the seas and ye the floodesbles ye the Lorde prayse him and magnifye
hym for euer.
23
Whales and all that in waters mouebles ye the Lorde prayse him and magnifye
hym for euer.
24
O all ye flying foules of thayre,bles ye the Lorde prayse him and magnifye
him for euer.
25
O all the beastes and cattayll ekebles ye the Lorde praise him and magnifye
him for euer.
26
O ye the children of mankindbles ye the Lorde prayse him and magnifye
him for euer.
27
Let Israell eke bles the Lorde,yea bles the Lord prayse him and magnifye
him for euer.
28
O ye the priestes of God the Lordebles ye the Lorde prayse hym and magnifye
hym for euer.
29
O ye the seruantes of the Lorde,him for euer.
30
Ye sprites and soules of righteous men,blesse ye the lorde prayse him and magnifye
hym for euer.
31
Ye holy and ye meke of hartblesse ye the lorde prayse him and magnifye
him for euer.
32
O Ananias blesse the lordeblesse thou the lord, prayse him and magnifye
him for euer,
bles thou the lord prayse him and magnifie
him for euer.
blesse thou the lord praise him and magnifye
him for euer.
The song of Zacharias, called Benedictus.
be praysed euer more:
For through his visitation
& mercy kept in store,
that longe hathe bene in thrall,
and spred abrod his sauing health
vpon his seruauntes all.
According to his minde:
And also hys annoynted king,
As we in Scripture finde.
As by his holy Prophetes all,
Oft times he did declare:
The whiche were since the worlde began,
His way for to prepare.
From those that make debate:
Our enemies, and from the handes,
Of all that doo vs hate.
The mercy whiche he promised,
Oure fathers to fulfill:
And thinke vpon his couenant made,
According to hys wyll.
Whiche he before had sworne:
For vs that were forlorne.
That he woulde geue him self for vs,
And vs from bondage bringe:
Out of the handes of all our foes,
To serue our heauenly kyng.
and eke in righteousnes?
and also for to leade our life,
In stedfast holynes.
And thou (o child) which now art borne
and of the Lorde elect:
Shalt be the Prophet of the hiest,
His wayes for to direct.
For to prepare his wayes:
and also for to teache his will,
and pleasure all the dayes.
To geue thē knowledg, how that theyr
Saluation is nere:
and that remission of theyr sinnes,
Is through his mercy mere.
Is come, vs for to visit:
and those for to illuminate,
whiche doo in darknes syt.
To lighten those that shadowed be,
with death and eke opprest:
and also for to guide theyr fete,
The way to peace and rest.
The songe of Blessed Mary, called Magnificat.
My sprit eke euermore,
Reioyseth in the Lorde my God
Which is my Sauior,
& why? because he did regard,
& gaue respect, vnto,
So base estate of his handmaid,
And let the mightie go.
And generations all:
From this time forth for euermore,
Shall me right blessed call.
Because he hath me magnifyed,
Which is the lorde of might:
Whose name be euer sanctifyed,
And praysed day and night.
All men he doth inflame:
Thorowout all generations,
To suche as feare his name.
He shewed strength with his great arme
And made the proude to start:
With all imaginations,
That they bare in theyr hart.
From their supernall seate:
And did exalte the meke in hart,
As he hath thought it mete.
The hungrie he replenished,
With all thinges that were good:
And through his power he made the riche,
Oft times to want their fode.
His mercy euery dele:
Hath holpen vp assistantly,
His seruaunt Israell.
According to his promise made,
To Abraham before:
And to his sede successiuely,
To stande for euermore.
The song of Simeon, called Nunc dimittis.
hath wished long to see,
thy sonne before I die,
the ioye and health of all mankind,
desired long before,
which now is come in to the worlde
of mercy bringing store.
In peace for to depart:
According to thy holy word,
Which lighteneth my hart.
Because mine eies, whiche thou hast made,
To geue my body light:
Haue now behelde thy sauing health,
Which is the Lord of might.
Of thine aboundant grace:
In open sight and visible,
Before all people face.
And Sathan ouer quell:
And eke to be the glory of
Thy people Israell.
The Crede of Athanasius.
saluation will attayne,
the catholike belefe he muste
before all thinges retayne,
which faith vnles he holy kepe,
and vndefiledly,
without al doubt eternally,
he shalbe sure to dye.
that God we worship one,
in vnitie alone.
So as we neyther doo confound,
the persons of the three,
Nor yet the substance whole of one
In sunder parted be.
an other of the Sonne,
An other person propre of
the holy Ghost alone.
Of Father, Sonne, and holy Ghost
but one the Godhed is,
Like glory, coeternall eke
the maiestie likewise.
the Sonne in eche degree,
And suche also we do beleue
the holy Ghost to be.
Nncreat is the Father, and
vncreat is the Sonne,
The holy Ghost, vncreate: so
vncreat is eche one.
Incomprehensible Sonne,
And comprehensible also is
The holy Ghost of none.
The Father is eternall, and
the Sonne eternall so,
And in like sort eternall is,
the holy Ghost also.
of these eternall be:
Yet there but one eternall is,
and not eternals three.
As ne incomprensible we,
ne yet vncreat three,
But one incomprensible, one
vncreat holde to be.
the sonne almightye so,
And in like sort almightye is
the holy Ghost also,
And albeit that euery one
of these almightie be:
Yet there but one almightie is,
and not almighties three.
God holy Ghost also:
Yet are there not three Gods in all,
but one God and no mo.
So likewise Lorde the Father is,
and Lorde also the Sonne,
And Lord the holy Ghost: yet are
there not three Lordes, but one.
by Christian veritie,
Eche of the persons by himselfe
both God and Lord to be.
So Catholick religion
forbiddeth vs alway
there Lordes be three to say.
ne creat, nor begot:
The Sonne is of the Father, not
creat ne made but got.
The holy Ghost is of them both,
the father and the Sonne,
Ne made, ne creat, nor begot,
but doth procede alone.
one Sonne also not three:
One holy Ghost alone, and not
three holy Ghostes to be.
None in this Trinitie before,
nor after other is:
Ne greater any then the rest,
ne lesser be likewise.
of all the persons three:
Together coeternall all,
and all coequall be.
So vnitie in Trinitie,
as said it is before:
And Trinitie in vnitie
in all things we adore.
saluation will attayne:
This faith touching the Trinitie:
of force he must reteyne.
it is that euery wight
Of the incarnating of Christ
our Lord beleue a right.
beleue and eke beknow,
That Christ our Lorde the son of God,
is God and man also,
God of his fathers substaunce, got
before the world began:
And of his mothers substance, borne
in worlde a very man.
in one one Iesus Christ
That doth of resonable soule,
an humane flesh subsist,
Touching his Godhed egall with
his father God is he.
Touching his manhed lower then
his father in degree.
and very man also:
yet is he but one Christ alone
and is not persons two.
One not by turning of Godhed
into the flesh of man:
But by taking manhod to God
this beyng one began,
the substance into one:
that is of one persone.
For as the reasonable soule
and flesh but one man is:
So in one persone God and man
is but one Christ like wise.
to hell he did descend:
The third day rose agayne from dead,
to heauen he did ascend.
He sittes at the right hand of God
thalmightie father there:
From thence to iudge the quick and dead
againe he shall retire.
with bodies new restorde:
And of theyr owne workes they shall geue
accompt vnto the Lorde.
And they into eternall lyfe
shall go that haue done well,
Who haue done ill shall go into
eternall fire to dwell.
who doth not faithfully
Beleue the same, without all dout,
he saued can not be.
To Father, Sonne, and holy Ghost,
all glory be therfore,
As in beginning was, is now,
and shalbe euermore.
The Lamentation of a Sinner.
frō him that lieth prostrate:
Lamenting sore his sinfull lyfe,
before thy mercy gate:
Which gate thou openest wide to those
that doo lament, their sinne,
shut not yt gate against me lord,
but let me enter in
How I haue liued here:
For then I know right well (O Lorde)
How vile I shall appere.
I nede not to confesse my lyfe,
I am sure thou canst tell:
I know thou knowest it well.
And eke the thinges that be:
Thou knowest also what is to come,
Nothing is hid from thee,
Before the heauens & earth were made:
Thou knowest what thinges were then:
As all things els that hath bene since,
Among the sonnes of men.
Be hidden from thee then:
Nay, nay, thou knowest them all (O Lord)
Where they were done and when,
Wherfore with teares I come to thee,
To begge and to entreat:
Euen as the child thht hath done euill,
And feareth to be beat.
Where mercy doth abound:
Requiring mercy for my sinne,
To heale my deadly wound,
O Lorde I nede not to repete,
What I doo beg or craue:
Thou knowest (O Lorde) before I aske,
The thing that I would haue.
This is the totall summe:
For mercy Lorde is all my sute,
Lorde let thy mercy come.
The humble sute of the Sinner.
be holde my carefull hart,
& when thy wil & pleasure
is relese me of my smart,
thou seest my sorowe what they are,
my gref is knowne to thee
& there is none yt can remoue,
or take the same frō me.
whose mercy still is prest
To ease all those that come to thee
for souccour and for rest.
And sith thou seest my restles eyes.
my teres and greuous grone,
Attende vnto my sute, O Lorde,
Marke well my plaint and mone,
and compast me aboute:
if mercy helpe not out.
For mortall man, cannot release,
or mitigate thys payne:
But euen thy Christ, my Lord and God,
whiche for my sinnes was slayne.
though not with mortall eye:
Yet doth thy sainctes beholde them all,
And so I trust shall I.
Though sinne doth hynder me a whyle,
When thou shalt see it good:
I shall enioye the sight of him
and see his woundes and bloud
doo now beholde the same:
So trust I to possesse that place,
With them to prayse thy name.
But whiles I liue here in this vale,
where sinners doo frequent:
Assist me euer with thy grace
My sinnes still to lament.
and geue them my consent:
To dwell with them in wickednes
wherto nature is bent
Only thy grace must be my staye
lest that I fall downe flat,
And being downe, then of my selfe
cannot recouer that.
my sute and my request
To graunt me pardon for my sinne
that I in thee may rest.
Then shall my hart, my tong and voyce,
be instruments of prayse
And in thy Churche and house of sainctes,
Sing psalmes to thee alwayes.
The Lordes Prayer, or Pater noster.
Our father which in heauenOur father which in heauen art, lord halowd be thy name, Thy kingdō come, thy will be don in earth, euen as the same in heauē is. Geue vs (O Lord) our dayly bread this day: As we forgeue our detters so, Forgeue our dettes
The, x. Commaundements.
geue hede to vnderstād.
I am the lord thy God,
yt brought thee out of Egipt land,
euen frō the house wherin
thou didst in thraldō liue a slaue.
Non other gods at all before
thou make at all to thee.
Nor any figure like by thee
shall counterfayted be,
O fany thing in heauen aboue,
nor in the earth belowe,
Nor in waters beneth the earth,
to them thou shalt not bowe.
a ielous God am I,
That punish parents faultes vnto
the third and fourth degree,
Upon their children that me hate:
and mercy doo display
To thousands of suche as me loue
and my precepts obey.
in vayne shalt neuer vse.
For him that takes his name in vayne,
the Lorde shall not excuse.
Remember that thou holy kepe,
the sacred Sabbat day:
Sir daies thou labour shalt, and doo
thy nedefull workes alway.
thy God to rest vpon.
ne thou, nor yet thy sonne,
Thy daughter, seruaunt, nor handmayd,
thine oxe, nor yet thine asse
Nor straunger that within thy gates
hath his abiding place.
and all therin did make,
And after those his rest he did
Upon the seuenth take,
Wherfore he blest the day that he
for resting did ordayne,
And sacred to him self alone
apointed to remayne.
prolonged thy dayes may be,
Upon the land, the which the Lord
thy God hath geuen thee.
Thou shalt not murther. Thou shalt not
commit adulterye.
Thou shalt not steale, nor witnes false
against thy neighbour be.
thy neyghbor doth belong,
Ne couet shalt in hauing of
his wyfe to doo him wrong:
Nor his man seruaunt, nor his mayde,
nor oxe, nor asse of his:
Nor any other thing that to
thy neighbor proper is.
PSALMES OF DAVID.
Beatus vir.
Psalme. i.
Whether it was Esoras, or any other that gathered the Psalmes into a booke: it semeth he did set thys Psalme firste in maner of a Preface, to exhorte all godly men to study and meditate the heauenly wisdome, for theffecte herof is, that they be blessed that geue them selues wholy all their life to Gods lawe: And that the wicked contemners of God, though they seme for a whyle fortunate, yet at lengthe shall come to miserable destruction.
to wicked rede his eare:
nor led his life as sinners do
nor sat in scorners chair.
But in the law of god ye lord,
both set his whole delight,
& in that law doth exercise,
fast by the riuer side:
Whiche bringeth forth most pleasant fruite.
in her due time and tide.
Whose leafe shall neuer fade nor fall,
But florish still and stand:
Euen so all thinges shall prosper well,
that this man taketh in hand.
they shalbe nothing so:
But as the dust which from the earth,
the windes dryue to and fro.
Therfore shall not the wicked men,
in iudgement stande vpryght:
Nor yet the sinners, with the iust,
shall come in place, or sight.
vnto the Lorde is knowne:
And eke the way of wicked men,
shall quyte be ouerthrowen.
Quare fremuerunt gentes.
Psalm. ii.
Dauid reioyseth, that notwithstanding hys enemies rage, & worldely power, yet God wil continue hys kyngdome for euer, and aduaūce it euen to the for most ende of the worlde. And therfore be exhorteth kinges and rulers, that setting vayne glory apart, they would humbly submit themselues vnder Gods yoke. Herein is signified Chryste and hys kyngdome.
what rage was in their braine?
Why dyd the Iewish people muse,
seyng all is but vayne?
The kinges and rulers of the earth,
conspire and are all bent:
Against the lord and Christ his sonne,
which he among vs sent.
let all theyr bondes be broke:
And of their doctrine and theyr lawe,
let vs reiect the yoke.
But he that in the heauen dwelleth,
their doinges will deride:
And make them all as mocking stockes,
throughout the worlde so wyde.
to them vpon a day:
And in his fury trouble them,
and then the Lorde will say.
I haue anoynted him my kyng,
upon my holy hyll:
I will therfore Lorde preach thy lawes.
and eke declare thy will.
did say to me I wotte,
Thou art my deare and only sonne,
to day I thee begotte.
All people I will geue to thee,
as heires at thy request:
by thee shall be possest.
as men vnder foote trode:
And as the potters sheardes shalt breake,
them with an yron rodde.
Now ye, O kinges and rulers all,
be wise therfore and learnde:
By whom the marters of the world,
be iudged and discernde.
in trembling and in feare:
Se that with reuerence ye reioyse,
to him in like manere.
Se that ye kisse and eke embrace,
his blessed sonne I say:
Lest in his wrath ye sodenly,
perish in the midde way.
shall kindle in hys brest:
Oh then all they that trust in Chryst,
shall happie be and blest.
Domine quid multiplicati. sūt.
Psal. iii.
Dauid being persecuted, & driuen out of his kingdome by his owne sonne Absalom was greatly tormented in minde for hys sinne against God: and therfore calleth vpon God, and waxeth bolde through hys promises, against the great terrors, of his enemies: yea, and againste deathe it selfe, whyche he sawe present before hys eyes. Finally he reioyseth for the good successe and victory, that God gaue hym and all the Churche ouer hys enemies.
which vexe me more & more,
They kil my hart when as they say,
God cā him not restore,
but thou,
O Lord, art my defence, whē I am harde bestead:
my worship & my honor bothe,
and thou holdst vp my hed.
I did bothe call and cry:
And he out of his holy hill,
did heare me by and by.
I slept and rose agayne:
For why? I know assuredly,
The Lorde will me sustayn,
I could not be afrayde:
For thou art still my Lorde my God,
my sauiour and mine ayde.
Rise vp therfore, saue me my God,
for now to thee I call:
For thou hast broke the cheekes and teeth,
of these wicked men all.
to thee, O Lorde aboue:
Thou doest bestowe vpon thy folke,
thy blessing and thy loue.
Cum inuo carem exaudiuit.
Psal. iiii.
Whē Saule persecutid Dauid. he called vpō God, trusting most assuredly in his promise, & therfore boldli reproueth his enemies, who by wilfull malice resisted his dominion. And fynally preferreth the fououre of God before all worldly treasures. Let vs lykewyse learne to trust in Gods promises, whē we are afflicted with any kinde of Crosse and so we shall neyther feare our enemies, nor yet be ouer commen with tentations.
Lorde heare me when I call:
Thou hast set me at liberty
when I was bonde and thrall:
Haue mercy Lorde therfore on me,
and graunt me this request:
For vnto thee vncessantly,
to cry I will not rest.
my glory thus despise?
Why wander ye in vanitie,
and folow after lyes?
Knowe ye that good and godly men,
the Lorde doth take and chuse:
And when to him I make my plaint,
he doth me not refuse.
examine well your heart:
And in your chambre quyetly,
see you your selues conuerte,
Offer to God the sacrifice,
of righteousnes I say:
And loke that in the liuing Lorde,
you put your trust alway.
and riches doo embrace:
But Lord graunt vs thy countenaunce,
thy fauour and thy grace.
For thou therby shalt make my hart,
more ioyfull and more glad:
Then they that of their corne and wine,
full great increase haue had.
taking my rest and slepe:
For thou onely wilt me, O Lorde,
alone in safety kepe.
Verba mea auribus percipe.
Psal. v.
Dauid hauing suffered greate calamitie, as well by Doeg and Achitophell Sauls flaterers, as by other infinit enemies, calleth to God for succor, shewing howe requisite it is, That god shuld punish
O Lorde my playnt consider.
And heare my voyce my kyng my God,
to thee I make my prayer.
Heare me betime, Lorde, tary not,
for I will haue respect,
My prayer early in the morne,
to thee for to direct.
in thee my God alone:
That art not pleasd with wickednes,
and ill with thee dwelleth none.
And in thy sight shall neuer stande.
these furious fooles, O Lorde:
Uaine workers of iniquitie,
Thou hast alwayes abhorde,
thou shalt destroy them then:
And God will hate the bloud thirstye,
and the deceitfull man.
Therfore will I come to thy house,
trusting vpon thy grace:
And reuerently will worship thee,
toward thine holy place.
for to confounde my foes:
And eke the way that I shall walke,
before my face disclose,
theyr hart is foule and vayne:
Their throte an open sepulchre,
their tonges doo glose and fayne,
that they may come to nought:
Subuert them in theyr heapes of sinne,
which haue rebellion wrought.
But those that put theyr trust in thee,
let them be glad alwayes:
And render thankes for thy defence,
and geue thy name the prayse.
the iust and righteous still:
And with thy grace as with a shilde,
defend him from all ill.
Domine in furore tuo arguas me. 1.
Psal. vi.
When Dauid by hys sinnes hathe prouoked Gods wrathe, & nowe felt not only hys hand against hym, but also conceyued the horrors of deathe euerlastyng: he desireth forgeuenes, bewayling that if God toke him away in hys indignation. he shoulde lacke occasion to praise him as he was wonte to doo whilest he was amongest men. Then so deinly felyng Gods mercy, he sharpely rebuketh his enemyes, which reioyseth in hys afliction.
though I deserue thyne ire:
Ne yet correcte me in thy rage,
For I am weake therfore O Lorde
of mercy me forbeare,
and heale me Lorde: for why thou knowest
my bones do quake for feare.
and vexed vehemently
But Lorde how long wilt thou delay
to cure my miserie?
my sely soule vp take:
Oh saue me, not for my desertes,
but for thy mercies sake.
remembreth thee one whit:
Or who shall worship thee (O Lorde)
in the infernall pit?
So greuous is my plaint and mone,
that I waxe wonderous faint:
All the night long I wash my bed,
with teares of my complaint.
with anguishe of mine hert
For feare of those that be my foes,
and would my soule subuert.
But nowe a way from me all ye,
that worke iniquitie
For why? the Lord hath heard the woyce,
of my complaint and crye.
and praier of my heart.
But it receiued at my hande,
and toke it in good part.
And nowe my foes, that vexed me,
the Lord will sone defame.
And sodenly confunde them all,
to theyr rebuke and shame.
Domine deus meus in te speraui.
Psal. vii.
Dauid being falsely accused by Chus, one of Sauls kinsmen, he calleth to God to be hys defender. to whom he commendeth hys innocency. Firste shewyng, that hys conscience dyd not accuse hym of any euyll towards Saule. Next that it touched gods glory to awarde sentence against the wicked. And so entring in to the consideration of Gods mercies and promises he waxeth bolde, & derideth the vaine enterprises of his enemies, threatning that it shall fall on theyr owne necks. that which they haue purposed for others.
[The first parte.]
and confidence in thee:
Saue me from them that me pursue.
and eke deliuer me:
Lest like a Lyon he me teare.
and rent in pieces small:
While there is none to succor me,
and rid me out of thrall.
the thyng that is not ryght:
Or ells if I be found in faut,
or giltie in thy syght.
Or to my frend rewarded euyll,
or left him in distres.
Which, me pursued most cruelly,
and hated me causeles.
and eke my life downe thrust,
Unto the earth, and also lay,
myne honour in the dust.
Stert vp, O Lord, now in thy wrath,
and put my foes to payne.
Performe thy kingdome promised,
to me whyche wrong sustayne.
and know thee by this thing:
If thou declare for loue of them,
thy selfe as Lorde and king.
And thou that art of all men iudge,
O Lorde now iudge thou me,
According to my rightousnes.
and mine integritie.
The second parte.
and be the iust mans guide.
By whom the secretes of all hartes,
are searched and descride.
I take my helpe, to come of God,
in all my grief and smarte:
That doth preserue all those that be,
of pure and perfect heart.
God iudgeth by his poure:
So that he feleth his mighty hand,
euen euery day and houre.
Except he chaunge his mind, I die,
for euen as he should smite,
He whet his sword his bow he bendth,
ayming where he may hit.
his arrowes kene and sharpe:
For them that doo me persecute,
whilest he doth mischief warps.
But loe, though he in trauell be,
of his deuelish fore cast.
yet bringeth forth nought at last.
In hope to hurte his brother:
But he shall fall into the pit,
that he digde vp for other.
Thus wrong retorneth to the hurt,
of him in whom it bread:
And all the mischief that he wrought,
shall fall vpon his head.
Domine Deus noster.
Psal. viii.
The Prophet considering thexcellent liberalitie, and fatherly prouidence of God towards man. whom he made as it were a God ouer all his workes, doth not only geue great thanks, but is astonished with thadmiration of the same: as one nothinge hable to compasse suche greate mercies, and so endeth.
are thy workes euery where:
Whose fame surmounte in dignitie,
aboue the heauens cleare.
Euen by the mouthes of sucking babes,
thou wilt confound thy foes:
For in these babes thy might is sene,
thy graces they disclose.
the workes of thine owne hand:
The Sunne, the Mone, and al the Starres.
in order as they stand.
What thing is man (Lorde) thinke I then,
Or what is mans posteritie,
that thou doest it considre.
then Angels in degree:
And thou hast crowned him also,
with glory and dygnitie.
Thou hast preferd him to be Lorde,
of all thy workes of wonder,
And at his fete hast set all thinges,
that he should kepe them vnder.
that in the fieldes doo fede:
Foules of the ayre, fishe in the sea,
and all that therin brede.
Therfore must I say once agayne,
O God, that art our Lorde:
How famous and how wonderfull,
are thy works through the world.
Confitebor tibi domine in toto.
Psalm. ix.
After he had geuen thankes to God, for the sundry victoryes that he had sent hym against his enemies, and also proued by manifolde experience howe ready God was at hande in all hys troubles: he beyng now likewise in daunger of new enemies, desireth God to help hym accordyng to hys wont, and distroye the malicious arrogancie of his aduersaryes.
[The first parte.]
will I syng laude and prayse:
And speake of all thy wondrous workes,
and them declare alwayes.
I will be glad and muche reioyce,
in thee (O God) moste hie:
And make my songes extoll thy name,
aboue the sterry skie.
and turned vnto flyght:
They fall downe flat and are destroyd
by thy great force and might.
Thou hast reuenged all my wrong.
my grief and all my grudge,
Thou dost with iustice heare my cause,
most like a righteous iudge.
and wicked so confounde,
That afterwarde, the memory,
of them cannot be founde.
My foe, thou hast made good dispatche
and all our townes destroyed:
Thou hast theyr fame with thē defaced
through all the world so wyde.
for euermore shall raygne:
And in the seate of equitie,
true iudgement wil mainteyne.
With iustice he wyll kepe and guyde,
the worlde and euery weight:
And so will yelde with equitie.
to euery man his right.
what tyme they be opprest:
He is in all aduersitie,
their refuge and theyr rest.
All they that know thy holy name,
therfore shall trust in thee:
in their necessitie.
that dwelleth in Sion hill:
Publishe amonge all nations,
his noble actes and will.
For he is mindfull of the bloud,
of those that be opprest:
For getting not the afflicted hart,
that seketh to him for rest.
The second parte.
whose enemies still remayne:
Which from the gates of death are wonte,
to rayse me vp agayne.
In Sion that I might set forth,
thy prayse with hart and voyce:
And that in thy saluation (Lorde)
my soule might still reioyce.
that they them selues preparde:
And in the net that they did set,
their owne fete fast are snarde.
God sheweth his iudgement which wer good
for euery man to marke:
When as ye see the wicked man,
lye trapt in his owne warke.
go downe to hell for euer:
And all the people of the worlde,
that will not god remember.
the poore mans grief and payne:
The pacient folke neuer loke,
for helpe of God in vayne.
Vt quid domine.
Psalme. x.
He complaineth of the fraude, rapine, tiranny, and of all kindes of wrong, which worldly men vse, assigninge the cause thereof, whiche was that wicked men beinge as it were dronken with worldly prosperitie, and therfore setting aparte all feare and reuerence towardes God, thinke they may doe all thinges without controwlinge Therfore he calleth vppon God to sende some remeady agaynst these desperate euyls. And at length comforteth him selfe with hope of deliuerance.
art now so sarre from thine?
And kepest close thy countenaunce,
from vs this troublous time?
The poore doth pearysh by the proude,
and wicked mens desire:
Let them be taken in the craft,
that they themselues conspire.
the vngodly doth delite:
So doth the wicked praise hym selfe,
and doeth the Lorde despite.
he setteth all apart:
Nay, nay, there is no God (sayeth he)
for thus he thinketh in hart.
he doth thy lawes neglect:
And with a blast doth puffe against,
suche as would him correct.
Tush, tush (saieth he) I haue no dread,
lest mine estate should chaunge:
And why? for all aduersitie,
to him is very straunge.
of fraud, deceyt, and guyle:
Under his tong doeth mischief syt,
and trauell all the whyle,
He lyeth hid in wayes and holes,
to slay the innocent.
Against the poore that passe him by,
hys cruell eyes are bent.
lieth lurking in his den:
If he may snare them in his net,
to spoyle poore simple men.
And for the nonce full craftely,
he croueheth downe I say:
So are greate heapes of poore men made,
by his strong power, his pray.
therfore may I be bolde:
he doth it not beholde,
Arise (O Lorde) O God in wome,
the poore mans hope doth rest:
Lift vp thy hand, forget not Lorde,
the poore that be opprest,
Lorde dost thou not abhorre it?
To heare the wicked in theyr hartes,
say, tushe thou carest not for it?
But thou seest all thys wickednes,
and well doest vnderstande:
That frendles and poore fatherles,
are left into thy hande.
then breake the power for euer:
That they with theyr iniquytie,
may pearish altogether.
The Lorde shall raine for euermore,
as king and God alone:
And he will chase the Heathen folke,
out of hys lande eche one.
theyr praiers & request:
Their harts thou wilt confirme vntyll
thine eares to heare be prest.
To iudge the poore and fatherles,
and helpe them to their right:
That they may be no more opprest,
with men of worldly might.
In Domino confido.
Psalm. xi.
This Psalme conteyneth two partes. In the firste Dauid shewed how hard assaultes of temtations he susteyned, and in howe great anguish of mind he was, when Saul did persecute hym. Then nexte he reioyseth. that God sent hym succor in his necessitie declaryng his iustice, as wel in gouernyng the good and the wicked men as the whole worlde.
say thus my soule vntill:
Flee hence as fast as any foule,
and hide you in youre hyll.
Beholde the wicked bende theyr bowes,
and make their arrowes prest:
To shote in secret and to hurte,
the sound and harmeles brest.
and clearly brought to nought:
Alas the iust and rightuous man,
what euill hath he wrought.
But he that in his temple is,
most holy and most hye:
And in the heauens hath his seate,
of royall maiestie.
considereth in his minde:
And searcheth out full narowly,
the maners of mankinde.
And with a cherefull countenaunce,
the rightuous man will vse:
But in his harte he doth abhorre,
all suche as mischief muse.
as thicke as any rayne:
appoynted for theyr payne.
Ye see then how a righteous God,
doeth righteousnes embrace:
And to the iust and vpryght man,
sheweth forth his pleasant face.
Saluum me fac Deus.
Psalm. xii.
The Prophet learnyng the miserable estate of the people. and the decaye of all good order, desyreth God spedely to sende succor to his children: Then comfortyng himselfe & others with thassuraunce of gods helpe: he commendeth the constant veritye that God obserueth in keping his promises, concluding that when all orders are most corrupted, then will God delyuer hys.
doo perysh and decay:
And fayth and truth from worldly men,
is parted cleane away.
Who so doeth with his neighboure talke,
his talke is all but vayne:
For euery man bethinketh how,
to flatter, lye and fayne.
and tounges that be so stoute:
To speake proud words, & make great bragges
the Lorde soone cut them out,
For they say still, we wyll preuayle,
our tonges shall vs extoll
Oure tonges are ours, we ought to speake,
what Lorde shall vs controll?
of poore and men opprest:
Arise will I now (sayeth the Lorde,)
and them restore to rest.
that from the earth is tried:
And hath no les then seuen times,
in fire bene puryfyed.
Lorde kepe thy promise then:
And saue vs now and euermore,
from this ill kinde of men.
For now the wicked world is full,
of mischief manifolde:
When vanitie with mortall men,
so highly is extolde.
Vsquequo domine.
Psalme. xiii.
Dauid (as it were) ouercomen with sundry and new afflictions, fleeth to God as his onely refuge, and so at the length being encouraged through Gods promises he conceyueth moste sure confidence againste the extreame horrors of deathe.
shall I neuer be remembred?
How long wilt thou thy visage hide,
as though thou were offended.
In hart and mynde how longe shall I.
with care tormented be?
Howe longe eke shall my deadly foe,
thus tryumphe ouer me?
and heare me sore opprest:
Lighten mine eyes lest that I slepe,
as one by death possest.
Lest this mine enemie sai to me,
beholde I doo preuayle:
Lest they also that hate my soule,
reioyce to see me quayle.
my hope shall neuer start:
In thy relife and sauing health,
right glad shall be my hart.
I will geue thankes vnto the Lorde,
and prayses so hym syng:
Because he hathe hard my request,
and graunted my wishyng.
Dixit in sipiens.
Psalme. xiiii.
He described the peruerse nature of men, whiche were so growen to licenciousnes, that God was brought to vtter cōtempt for the which thing although he was greatly greued: yet being perswaded that god would send som present remedy, he comfort him selfe and others.
affirm in their mad mode:
their drifts ar al corrupt and vain,
not one of thē doth good.
The lord beheld frō heauen hie
ye whole race of mākind
and saw not one yt sought in dede
and truely there was none:
That in the worlde did any good,
I say, there was not one.
Is all theyr iudgement so farre lost,
that all worke mischief styll:
Eatyng my people euen as breade,
not one to seke Gods wyll,
great feare on them shall fall:
For God doth loue the rightuous men,
and will maintayne them all.
Ye mocke the doinges of the poore,
to theyr reproche and shame?
Because they put theyr trust in God,
and call vpon hys name.
and when wilt thou fulfill:
The promise made to Israell.
from out of Sion hill.
Euen when thou shalt restore agayne,
suche as were captiues lad:
Then Iacob shall therin reioyse,
and Israell shall be glad.
Domine quis habitabit.
Psalm. xv.
This Psalme teacheth on what condition God did chuse the Iewes for his peculiar people, and wherfore he placed his Temple amonge them, whyche was to thentent, that they by liuing vprightly & godly, might witnes that they were his speciall and holy people.
who shall inhabite styll?
Or whom wilt thou receyue to dwell.
in thy most holy hill?
The man whose lyfe is vncorrupt,
whose workes are iust and streit:
Whose hart doth thinke the very truthe,
whose tong speaketh no deceyt.
in body goods, or name:
Nor willingly doeth moue false tales,
which might empere the same.
That in hys hart regardeth not,
malicious wicked men:
But those that loue and feare the Lorde,
he maketh muche of them.
that kepeth faithfully:
Although he make his couenaunt so,
that he doth lose therby,
That putteth not to vsury,
hys money and hys coyne:
Ne for to hurt the innocent,
doeth brybe or els purloyne.
that here is to be done:
Shall neuer perish in thys world,
Conserua me domine.
psalm. xvi.
Dauid prayeth to God for succor, not for hys workes, but for hys faithes sake, protestyng that he hateth all Idolatry, takyng God only for hys comforte and felicytie: who suffereth hys to lacke nothing.
and doo confesse in dede:
Thou art my God, and of my good,
O Lorde, thou hast no nede.
I geue my goodnes to the sainctes,
that in the worlde doo dwell:
And namely to the faithfull flocke,
in vertue that excell.
which runne as they were mad:
To offer to the Idols gods,
alas it is to bad.
As for theyr bloudy sacrifyce,
and offringes of that sort:
I will not touch, nor yet therof,
my lippes shall make report.
of mine inheritaunce:
And thou art he that doest mainteyne,
my rent my lot, my chaunce,
The place wherin my lot did fall,
in beauty did excell:
Mine heritage assigned to me,
doth please me wondrous well.
to vnderstand the right:
For by his meanes my secreat thoughtes,
do teache me euery nyght.
I set the Lorde still in my sight,
and trust in him ouer all:
For he doth stande on my ryght hand,
therfore I shall not fall.
doeth bothe reioyse together:
My fleshe and body rest in hope,
when I this thyng consider.
Thou wilt not leaue my soule in graue,
for Lorde, thou louest me,
Nor yet will geue thyne holy one,
corruption for to see.
for all treasures and store:
Of perfect ioy are in thy face,
and power for euermore.
Exaudi domine iustitiam meam.
Psal. xvii.
Here he complayneth to god of the cruel pride and arrogancye of Saule, and the rest of his enemies, who thus raged withoute anye cause geuen on his part: therfore he desireth God to reuenge his innocency and deliuer him. This Psalm ought diligently to be noted of suche as receiue euell, for well doyng.
[The first parte.]
attend when I complaine:
And heare the prayer that I put forth
with lippes that doo not fayne.
And let the iudgement of my cause,
procede alwayes from thee:
thys my simplicitie,
and yet couldst nothyng fynde:
That I haue spoken with my tonge,
that was not in my minde.
As from the workes of wicked men,
and pathes peruerse and ill:
For loue of thy most holy worde,
I haue refrayned styll.
stay me (Lorde) and preserue:
That from the way wherin I walke,
my steppes may neuer swerue.
For I doo call to thee (O Lorde)
surely thou wylt me ayde:
Then heare my prayer & way right wel
the wordes that I haue sayde.
The seconde parte.
and dayly me anoy:
Ind from my foes that go about,
my soule for to destroy.
so full and eke so fat:
That in theyr pride they do not spare,
to speake they care not what.
with craft me to confounde:
And musing mischief in their mindes,
to cast me to the grounde.
Muche lyke a Lyon gredely,
that would hys praye embrace:
Or lurking like a Lyons whelpe,
within some secrete place.
and cast hym at thy feete:
Saue thou my soule from the euil man,
and with thy sworde him smite.
Deliuer me Lorde by thy power,
out of these tyrantes handes:
Whiche nowe so longe time raigned haue.
and kepe vs in theyr bandes.
all worldly goodes are ryfe:
That haue no hope nor part of ioy,
but in this present lyfe.
Thou of thy store, theyr bellies filst,
with pleasures to their minde:
Theyr children haue inough, and leaue,
to theirs the rest behinde.
Diligam te domine.
psal. xviii.
This Psalme is the fyrste beginnyng of Dauids saluation and thancks geuing in the entring into his kingdome, wherin he extolleth, and praiseth most highly, the maruelous mercies and grace of God, who hathe bothe preserued and defended hym: he setteth forthe the Image of Christes kingdome, painted in hys kindom: that the faithful mai be assured, that Christe shall alwayes conquere and ouercome by the vnspeakable power of hys father, though all the whole world shuld say there against.
[The first parte.]
of force I must loue the:
Thou art my castell & defence
in mine necessitie.
My god my rock in whō I trust
ye worker of my wealth,
my refuge buckler & my shield,
ye horn of al mi health
most worthy to be strued:
Then fro my foes I am right sure,
that I shalbe preserued.
The panges of death did compas me,
and bounde me euery where:
The flowing waues of wickednes.
did put me in great feare.
were round aboute me set:
And for my death there was preparde,
a deadly trapping net.
I thus beset with payne and gryef,
did pray to God for grace:
And he forthwith did heare my playnt,
out of his holy place.
he made the earth to quake:
Yea the foundation of the mounte,
of Basan for to shake.
And from his nostrels came a smoke,
When kindled was his ire:
And from his mouth came kindled coles,
of hote consuming fire,
The second parte.
his denne and secret place:
With waters black and ayrie cloudes,
enuironed he was.
But when the presence of his face,
in brightnes shall appeare:
Then cloudes consume & in their stead,
come hayles aud coales of fyre.
disperse them here and there:
And with his often lightninges,
he puttes them in great feare.
Lorde at thy wrath and threatenings,
and at thy chyding cheare.
The springes and the foundations,
of all the worlde appeare.
to fetche me from belowe:
And pluckt me out of waters great,
that would me ouerflowe.
And me deliuered from my foes,
that would haue made me thrall:
Yea from such foes as were to strong,
for me to deale with all.
in time of my great gryef:
But yet the Lorde was my defence,
my succor and relief.
where as I might be free:
And kept me safe because he had,
a fauor vnto me.
The third parte.
to his law and decree:
His statutes and commaundementes,
I cast not out fro me.
But pure and cleane and vncorrupt,
appearde afore his face:
And did refrayne from wickednes,
and sinne in any case.
as I haue done aright:
And to the cleannes of my handes,
appearing in hys sight.
For Lorde with him that holy is,
wilt thou be holy to:
And with the good and vertuous men,
right vertuously wilt doo.
thy loue thou wilt reserue,
as wicked men deserue.
For thou dost saue the simple folke,
In trouble when they lye:
And dost bring downe the countenance
of them that loke full hie.
that it shall shine full bryght:
The Lorde my God will make also,
my darknes to be light.
For by thy helpe an host of men,
disconfite (Lorde) I shall:
By thee I scale and ouerleape,
the strength of any wall.
The forthe parte.
is he that I doo meane:
That all the wayes wherin I walke,
did euermore kepe cleane.
That made my feete lyke to the hartes,
in swiftnes of my pace:
And for my suertie brought me forth,
into an open place
to bataile and to fyght:
To breake in sunder barres of bras,
he gaue my armes the myght.
Thou reachest me my sauing health,
thy right hand is my tower:
Thy loue and familiaritie,
doeth styll encrease my power.
the waye where I should walke:
So that my feete shall neuer slippe.
nor stumble at a balke.
And fiersely I pursue and take,
my foes that me annoyed:
And from the field doo not retorne,
till they be all destroyde.
that they can rise no more:
For at my seate they fall downe flat,
I strike them all so sore.
For thou dost gird me with thy strength
to warre in suche a wyse:
That they be all scatred abroade,
that vp against me ryse,
The fifth parte.
I driue them vnder feate:
And swepe them out lyke filthy claye,
that stinketh in the streat.
Thou kepest me from sedicious folke,
that still in stryfe be led:
And thou doest of the heathen folke,
apoint me to be hed.
and yet they shall me serue:
And at the first obey my word,
wheras mine owne will swarue.
I shalbe ircksom to mine owne,
they will not see my light:
But wander wide out of theyr wayes,
and hide them out of sight.
most worthy of all prayse:
That is my rocke and sauing health,
praysed be he alwayes.
For God it is that gaue me power,
reuenged for to be:
And with his onely worde subdued,
the people vnto me.
and set me hier then those:
That cruell and vngodly were,
and vp against me rose.
to thee geue thankes I shall?
And syng out prayses to thy name,
among the Gentils all.
Cœli enarrant gloriam dei.
Psalme. xix.
To the intent he might moue the faithfull to a deper consideration of Gods glory, he setteth before theyr eyes the most exquisite workemāship of the Heauens, with theyr proportion and ornamentes. And afterwarde calleth them to the law wherin God hath reueled hymselfe more familiarly to his chosen people. The whiche peculiar grace by commending the lawe, he setteth foorth more at large, and at thende, he concludeth with a Prayer.
doo wonderously declare:
The glory of God omnipotent,
his workes and what they are.
The wonderous workes of God apere
by euery dayes successe:
The nightes, which likewise theyr race run
the self same thinges expresse.
where theyr sounde is not heard:
In all the earth and coastes therof
their knowledge is conferd.
In them the Lorde made for the sunne,
a place of great renome:
Who like a bridegrome ready trimde,
doth from hys chamber come.
who for to get a pryce:
With ioy doth hast to take in hande,
some noble enterprise.
And all the skie from ende to ende,
he compasseth about:
Nothyng can hide it from his heat,
but he will finde it out.
how is his couenaunt sure?
Conuerting soules and makyng wyse,
the simple and obscure.
Iust are the Lordes commaundimēts,
and glad both hart and mynde:
His precept pure and geueth light,
to eyes that be full blynde.
and doth indure for euer:
The iudgements of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
And more to be embraste alwayes,
then fined golde, I say:
The hony and the hony combe,
are not so swete as they.
to haue God in regarde:
And in performance of the same,
there shalbe great rewarde.
But lord what earthly man doth know
the errours of hys lyfe?
whyche are in me most ryfe.
preuayle not ouer me:
And then shall I be innocent,
and great offences flee.
Accept my mouth and eke my hart,
my wordes and thoughts echone:
For my redemer and my strength,
O Lorde thou art alone.
Exaudiat te dominus.
Psal. xx.
A prayer of the people vnto God: that it woulde please hym to heare theyr king: and receyue his sacrifice, whyche he offred before he went to battell against the Ammonites, declaryng howe that the Heathen put theyr trust in horses & chariotes, but they trust only in the name of the Lorde theyr God. Wherfore the other shall fall, but the Lorde will saue the kinge and hys people.
the Lorde God heare thee styll.
The maiestye of Iacobs God,
defende thee from all ill.
And send thee from his holy place,
hys helpe at euery nede:
And so in Sion stablish thee,
and make thee strong in dede.
that now to him is done:
And so receyue right thankfully,
thy burnt offringes echeone.
Accordyng to thy hartes desire,
the Lorde graunt vnto thee:
full well performe may he.
and our banners displaye:
Unto the Lorde whyche thy requestes,
fulfilled hathe alwaye.
The Lorde will his annoynted saue,
I know well by hys grace:
And send him health by his right hand
out of his holy place:
and some in horses trust:
But we remember God our Lorde,
that kepeth promise iust.
They fall downe flat, but we doo ryse,
and stand vp stedfastly:
Now saue and helpe vs, Lorde & king,
on thee when we doo cry.
Domine in virtute.
Psalme. xxi.
Dauid in the parson of the people prayseth God for the victory which he gaue them against the Siriās and Ammonites .i. Sam .x.xi. wherin he had the riche crowne of the king of Ammon set vpon his head .ii, Sam .xii. and was indued with the manifolde blessinges of God, and contrarywise his enemies destroyed.
in thy strēgth, & thy power:
how vemently doeth he reioyce
in thee hys sauior.
his godly harts desire:
to hym nothing hast thou denide
of that he did require.
and blessynges manifold:
And thou hast set vpon hys head.
a crowne of perfect golde.
And when he asked life of thee,
therof thou madst hym sure:
To haue longe lyfe, yea suche a lyfe,
as euer should indure.
thy benefyte and ayde:
Greate worship and greate honor bothe,
thou hast vpon hym layde,
Thou wylte geue hym felycytie,
that neuer shall decay:
And with thy chearefull countenaunce,
wylt comforte hym alway.
in God for to preuayle:
Therfore hys goodnes and his grace,
will not that he shall quayle.
But let thyne enemies fele thy force,
and those that thee withstande:
Finde out thy foes, and let them fele,
the power of thy right hande.
in firie flame and fume:
Thine angre shall destroy them all,
and fyre shall them consume.
And thou wilt roote out of the earth,
their frute that should increase,
And from the number of thy folke,
theyr seede shall ende and cease.
against thyne holy name:
Yet did they fayle and had no power,
for to performe the same.
But as a marke thou shalt them set,
in a most open place:
And charge thy bowstringes readily,
against thyne enemies face.
in thy strength euery houre:
So shall we sing right solempnely,
praisyng thy might and power.
Deus deus meus respice.
Psalm. xxii.
Dauid complayneth hymselfe to be broughte into suche extremities, that he is like a man desperate & past al hope, after declareth wherof,
[The first parte.]
forsake me vtterly:
And helpest not when I doo make,
my greate complaynte and cry.
To thee my God euen all day longe,
I doo bothe crye and call?
I cease not all the night and yet,
thou hearest not at all.
and holy place dost dwell:
Thou art the comfort and the ioye,
and glory of Israell,
And he in whom our fathers olde,
had all theyr hope for euer:
And when they put their trust in thee,
So diddest thou them deliuer.
they called on thy name:
And for the fayth they had in thee,
they were not put to shame.
But I am nowe become a worme,
more like then any man:
And outcast whom the people scorne,
with all the spite they can.
me walking on the waye:
They gren, they mowe, they nod theyr heads,
and in this wyse they faye,
his fauore and his loue:
Let him redeme and helpe hym nowe,
his power if he will proue.
The seconde parte.
in thys my present gryef:
Since I haue none to be my helpe,
my succor and relyef.
So many bulles doo compasse me,
that be full strong of head:
Yea bulles so fat as though they had,
in Basan field be fed.
as though they would me slay:
Muche like a Lion roring out,
and ramping for his praye.
But I drop downe lyke water shed,
my ioyntes in sunder breake:
My hart doeth in my body melt,
lyke waxe against the heate.
my tonge it cleaueth fast:
to dust of death at last.
And many dogges doo compas me,
and wicked counsell eke:
Conspire against me cursedlie,
they pearse my handes and fete.
might all my bones haue tolde:
Yet styll vpon me they doo loke,
and still they me beholde:
My garments they deuided eke,
in partes amonge them all:
And for my coate they did cast lottes,
to whom it might be fall.
fro me at my great nead:
But rather sith thou arte my strength,
to helpe me (Lorde) make speade.
And frō the sword (Lord) saue my soule
by thy might and thy powre:
And kepe my soule thy darlyng deare,
from dogges that would deuoure.
The thirde parte.
sede of Iacob honor hym:
And with al reuerence possible: thou sede
of Israell worship him.
For he despiseth not the poore,
he tourneth not awrye:
His countenaunce when they doo call,
but graunteth to theyr crye.
I will therfore proclayme:
Thy prayse and kepe my promise made,
for settyng forth thy name.
The poore shall eate and be suffised,
and those that doo theyr deuer:
To knowe the Lorde shall prayse hys name,
theyr hartes shall lyue foreuer.
and tourne to hym for grace:
The Heathen folke shall worship hym,
before his blessed face.
The kingdome of the Heathen folke,
the Lorde shall haue therfore:
And he shalbe their gouernor,
and kyng for euermore.
shall feede, and tast also:
And in hys presence worship hym,
and bow their knees full low.
And all that shall go downe to dust,
of lyfe by him must tast
whyle any world shall last.
Dominus regit me.
Psalm. xxiii.
Because the prophet had proued the great mercies of God at diuers times, and in sundry manners: he gathereth a certayne assuraunce, fully perswadyng hym selfe that God wil continue the very same goodnes towardes him for euer.
Nothing therfore I nead:
In pastors fayre, with waters calme
he set me for to fead.
He did conuert and glad my soule,
and brought my minde in frame:
To walke in pathes of rightuousnes,
for his most holy name.
yet will I feare non ill:
Thy rod, thy staffe, doeth comfort me,
and thou art with my styll.
And in the presence of my foes,
my table thou shalt spread:
Thou shalt (O Lord) fill full my cup,
and eke annoynt my head.
So frankly shewde to me:
That in thy house for euermore,
my dwelling place shalbe.
Domini est terra.
Psalme. xxiiii.
Because the grace of God was then to be vttered in the temple, more glorious then before it had ben in the tabernacle, Dauid geueth it a more glorious title, and with exclamation setteth forth the honor ther of, styring vs to the consideration of the eternall mansions prepared for vs in the heauens: wherof this was a shadow and figure.
her store and furniture:
Yea hys is all the worlde, and all,
that therin doo indure.
For he hathe fastly founded it.
aboue the sea to stand:
And layd alow the liquid flouds,
to flow beneathe the land.
ascend into thy hyll
Or passe into thy holy place,
there to continew styll.
Whose hāds are harmles, & whose hart
no spot there doth defyle:
His soule not set on vanitie,
who hathe not sworne no guyle.
shall place in blisfull plight:
And God his God, and sauior,
shall yelde to hym his right.
This is the broode of trauelers,
in sekyng of hys grace:
As Iacob did the Israelite,
in that time of his race.
the euerlastyng gate:
For there shall entre in thereby,
the king of gloryous state.
What is the kynge of glorious.
the strong and mighty Lord:
The mightye Lorde in battailes stoute,
and tryall of the sword.
the euerlastyng gate:
For there shall entre in therby,
the king of Glorious state.
What is this kinge of glorious,
the Lorde of hostes it is:
The kingdome and the royaltie,
of glorious state is hys.
Ad te domine leuaui.
Psalm. xxv.
The Prophet touched with the consideration of his sinnes, and also greued with the cruell malice of his enemies, prayeth to god most feruently to haue his sinnes forgeuen, especially suche as he had committed in his youth. He beginneth euery verse according to the Ebrue letters two or three except.
[The first parte.]
my god & guide most iust.
Now suffer me to take no shame,
for in thee do I trust.
nor make a scorne of me,
And let them not be ouerthrowē
that put their trust in thee.
whyche harme them wrongfully:
Therfore thy pathes & thy rightwaies,
vnto me Lorde descry.
Direct me in thy trueth,
and teache me I thee pray:
Thou art my God and sauiour,
on thee I wayte alway.
I pray thee Lorde remember:
And eke thy pitye plentifull,
for they haue ben for euer.
Remember not the fautes,
and frailtie of my youth:
Remembre not how ignorant,
I haue ben of thy trouth:
let me thy mercy fynde:
But of thyne owne beningnitie,
Lorde haue me in thy mynde.
His mercy is full swete,
hys truthe a perfect guyde:
Therfore the Lorde wyll sinners teach
and suche as go asyde.
The seconde parte.
O Lorde I thee intreat:
To graunt me pardon for my sinne,
for it is wondrous great,
Who so doeth feare the Lorde,
the Lorde doeth him direct:
To leade his lyfe in suche awaye,
as he doeth best accept.
in goodnes dwell and stande:
His seede and his posteritie,
inherite shall the lande,
All those that feare the Lorde,
know hys secret intent:
hys wyll and testament.
to hym I wyll aduaunce:
That pluckt my fete our of the snare,
of sinne and ignoraunce.
With mercy me beholde,
to thee I make my mone:
For I am poore and desolate,
and comfortles alone.
are multiplyed in dede:
Bring me out of this misery,
necessitiy and nede.
Beholde my pouertie,
mine anguish and my payne:
Remit my sinne and myne offence,
and make me cleane agayne:
how they doo styll increase:
Pursuing me with deadly hate,
that fayne would lyue in peace.
Preserue and kepe my soule,
and eke deliuer me:
And let me not be ouerthrowne,
because I trust in thee.
Iudica me domine.
Psalme. xxvi.
Dauid oppressed with many iniuryes, finding no helpe in the worlde, called for ayde from God: and assured of his integritie toward Saul, desireth God to be his iudge and to defend his innocency, causeles afflicted. Finally he maketh mention of his sacrifice whiche he will offer for his deliueraunce, and desireth to be in the company of the faithfull in the congregation of God, whence he was banished by Saule, promisyng integritie of life & open praises and thankes geuing.
My pathes be right and plaine:
I trust in God, and hope that he,
will strength me to remaine.
Proue me my God I thee desire,
my waies to searche and trie:
As men do proue theyr gold with fire,
my reines and hert espie.
I durst be bold alwaies:
For of thy trueth I tread the trace,
and will doo all my dayes.
I doo not lust to haunt or vse,
with men whose dedes ar vayne:
To come in house I doo refuse,
with the deceiptfull trayne.
their dedes I doo despise:
I doo not once to them resort,
that hurtfull thinges deuyse,
in workes that walke vpryght:
Then to the aulter I make spede,
to offer there in sight.
that doth belonge to thee:
And so declare how wondrous wayes
thou hast ben good to me.
O Lorde thy house I loue most deare,
to me it doeth excell:
I haue delight and would be neare,
wher as thy grace doeth dwell.
in sinne that take their fill,
Nor yet my lyfe amongst those men,
that seke much bloud to spill.
Whose hands ar heapt with craft & guile
their life therof is full:
And their right hand with wrēch & wile,
for bribes doth pluck and pull.
my time and daies to serue
Haue mercy Lorde and me defende,
so that I doo not swarue.
My fote is stayed for all assayes,
it standeth well and right:
Wherfore to God will I geue prayse,
in all the peoples sight.
Dominus illuminatio.
Psal. xxvii.
Dauid maketh this Psalme, being deliuered frō great pearils as appeareth by the prayses and thankesgeuyng annexed wherin
shall man make me dismayde?
Sith God doth geue me strength & might
why should I be afrayde?
While that my foes with all their strēgth
begin with me to brawle:
And thinke to eate me vp at length,
themselues haue caught the fall.
my hart is not afrayd:
In battell pight if they will trye,
I trust in God for ayde.
One thing of God I doo require,
that he will not denye:
For whiche I pray and will desyre,
till he to me applye.
my lyfe throughout may dwell:
To see the beauty of his face,
and vew his temple well.
In time of dreade he shall me hide,
within hys place most pure:
And kepe me secret by hys syde,
as on a rocke most sure.
shall make me strong and stoute:
My foes to foile and cleane deface,
that compasse me about.
Therfore within his house will I.
Geue sacrifice of prayse:
With Psalmes and songes I will applye,
to laude the Lorde alwayes.
for whyche to thee I call:
Haue mercy (Lord) on me opprest,
and send me helpe withall.
My hart doth knowledge vnto thee,
I sue to haue thy grace:
Then seke my face sayste thou to me,
Lorde I will seke thy face.
Nor suffer me to slide:
Thou art my helpe still to this day,
be still my God and guide.
My parentes both theyr sonne forsoke,
and cast me of at large:
And then the Lorde himselfe yet toke,
of me the cure and charge.
and leade me on forth ryght:
For feare of suche as watche for me,
to trap me if they might.
Do not betake me to the will,
of them that be my foes:
false witnes to depose,
this hope he fixed fast:
The Lorde Gods good grace shall it see,
in lyfe that aye shall laste.
Trust still in God, whose whole thou art,
His will abide thou must:
And he shall ease and strength thy hart,
if thou in hym doo trust.
Ad te domine clamabo.
Psal. xxviii.
Being in great feare and pensiuenes to see God dishonoured by the wicked men, he desireth to be rid of them, and cryeth for vengeaunce against them, and at length assureth hym selfe, that God hath hard his prayer, vnto whose tuition he commendeth all the faithefull.
the succor whyche I craue:
Neglect me not, lest I be lyke,
to them that go to graue.
The voyce of thy suppliant heare,
that vnto thee doeth crye:
When I lift vp, my handes vnto,
thy holy arke moste hye.
of wicked and peruert:
That speake ryght fayre vnto theyr frēds,
and thinke full ill in hart.
According to theyr handy worke,
as they deserue in dede:
And after their inuencions,
let them receyue theyr mede.
his lawe ne yet his lore:
Therfore will he them and theyr seede,
destroy for euermore.
To render thankes vnto the Lorde,
how great a cause haue I:
My voyce, my prayer and my complaynt,
that heard so willingly.
my buckeler in destresse.
My hope, my helpe, my hartes relyef,
my songe shall him confesse.
He is our strength and oure defence,
our enmies to resist:
The health and the saluacion,
of his electe by Chryste.
Lorde blesse, guide, and preserue:
Increase them Lorde, and rule theyr harts
that they may neuer swerue.
Afferte domino.
Psalme. xxix.
An excellent Psalme, wherin the Prophet exhorteth the verye Princes and rulers of the world (whiche otherwise for the most parte thinke there is no God) at the leaste to feare hym for the thunders and tempestes, for feare wherat all creatures tremble. And though thereby God threatneth sinners, yet is he alwayes mercyfull to hys, and moueth them therby to prayse his name.
ye rulers of the worlde:
Geue ye all prayse, honor and strength,
vnto the liuing Lorde.
and honor him alone:
Worship hym in his maiestie,
within his holy throne.
euen as him selfe doth please:
He doth prepare the thunder clappes,
and gouerneth all the sease.
The voyce of God, is of great force,
and wonderous excellent:
It is most mightye in effect,
and muche magnificent.
the Cedre trees so long:
The Cedre tres of Libanus,
whiche are most hie and strong.
And makth them leape, like as a calf,
or els the Unicorne:
Not only trees, but mountaines great,
wheron the tres are borne.
and shakth the wildernes:
It makth the desert quake for feare,
that called is Cades.
It makth the Hindes, for feare to calue
and makth the couerte playne:
Then in his temple euery man,
his glory doth proclaime.
ruling the raging sea:
for euer and for aye.
The Lorde will geue his people power,
in vertue to increase:
The Lord wyll blesse hys chosen folke.
with euerlastyng peace.
Exaltabo te domine.
Psal. xxx.
When Dauid should haue dedicated hys house to the Lorde, he fel so extreme sick, that he was without all hope of lyfe, & therfore after hys recouery, he rendreth thankes to God, exhortyng others to the lyke, & learn by his example, that God is rather mercyfull then seuere, and rigorous towardes his childrē, and also that the fall from prosperitie is sodeine. This done, he retourneth to prayer, promisyng to prayse God for euer.
O Lorde I geue to thee:
whiche didst not make my foes reioyse,
but hast exalted me.
O lord my god to thee I cryde,
in all my paine & grief:
to ease me with relief,
My soule from hell to saue:
Thou didst reuiue when strength did lacke,
and kept me from the graue.
Sing prayse ye sainctes that proue and see,
the goodnes of the Lord:
In memorye of his maiestie,
Reioyse with one accord.
doeth last and slake agayne:
But in his fauour and hys grace,
alwayes doeth lyfe remayne.
Though gripes of grief, and panges full sore,
shall lodge with vs all night:
The Lorde to ioy shall vs restore,
before the day be light.
thus would I boast and say:
Tushe, I am sure to feele none ill,
this wealth shall not decay.
For thou (O Lorde of thy good grace,
hadst sent me strength and ayde.
my mynde was sore dismaide.
to thee, O Lorde of might:
My God with plaintes I did apply,
and prayde both day and night.
What gayne is in my bloud saide I,
if death destroy my dayes:
Doth dust declare thy maiestie,
or yet thy trueth doth prayse?
O Lorde I thee desyre:
Do not this simple soule forsake,
of helpe I thee requyre.
Then didst thou turne my grief and wo,
vnto a chearfull voyce:
The mournyng weede thou tokste me fro,
and madst me to reioyse.
shall syng vnto thy prayse:
My Lorde, my God, to thee will I,
Geue laude and thankes alwayes.
Inte domine speraui.
Psal. xxxi.
Dauid deliuered from some great daunger, in the desert of Madis or els wher, first reherseth what meditation he had by the power of fayth when death was before his eyes, his enemy beyng ready to take him: then he adioyneth the fauor of God alwaies to be ready to those that feare him. Finally he exhorteth al the faithful to trust in God & to loue him, because he preserueth and strengthneth, them, as they may se by his example.
[The first parte.]
Let nothyng worke me shame:
As thou art iust deliuer me,
and set me quyte from blame.
Geue me (O Lorde) and that anone.
to helpe me make good spead,
Be thou my rocke, and house of stone,
my fence in time of nede.
thou art my fort and towre:
For thy names sake be thou my guyde,
and leade me in thy power.
Plucke forth my feete, & break the snare
which they for me haue layde:
Thou art my strength, and all my care
is for thy might and ayde.
my spirite whyche is thy dew:
For why thou hast redemed it,
O Lorde thou God most trewe.
I hate suche folke as wyll not part,
from thynges to be abhorde:
When they on trifles set theyr harte,
my truste is in the Lorde.
The seconde parte.
some pitye on me take:
Mine eyes waxe dimme, my might doth faile
my wombe for wo doth ake.
My lyfe is worne with grief and paine
my yeares in wo are past:
My strength is gone & through disdaine
my bones corrupt and wast.
my frendes are all dismaide:
My neighbours and my kinsmen borne
to see me are afrayde.
As men once dead are out of minde,
so am I now forgot:
As small effect in me they finde,
as in a broken pot.
theyr threates my minde did fraye:
How they conspirde and went about,
to take my lyfe awaye.
But (Lorde) I trust in thee for ayde,
not to be ouer trod:
For I confesse and still haue saide,
thou art my Lorde and God.
The thirde parte.
for that on thee I call:
But let the wicked beare their shame,
and in the graue to fall.
Oh how great good hast thou in store,
layde vp full safe for them:
That feare and trust in thee therfore,
before the sonnes of men.
from al proud bragges and wrongs
Within thy place thou shalt them hyde
from all the stryfe of tonges.
Thankes to the lord that hath declard
on me his grace so farre:
Me to defend with watche and ward,
as in a towne of warre.
when I was sore opprest:
Loe, I was cleane cast out of sight,
yet heardst thou my request,
Ye sainctes, loue ye the Lord, I say,
the faithfull he doth guide:
And to the proude he will repay,
according to their pride.
Beati quorum remissi sunt.
Psal. xxxii.
Dauid punished with greuous sicknes for his sinnes, counteth them happy to whom God doeth not impute theyr transgressions. And after that he had confessed his sinnes and obteyned pardon, he exhorteth the wicked men to lyue godly, and the good to reioyse.
the Lorde hath cleane remitted:
And he whose sin and wretchednes,
is hid and also couered.
And blest is he to whom the Lorde,
imputeth not hys sinne:
Whyche in hys hart hath hid no guile,
nor fraude is founde therin.
in silence and constraynt:
My bones did weare and wast away,
with dayly mone and playnt.
For night and day thy hand on me
so greuous was and smert:
That all my bloud and humours moist,
to driues did conuert.
and all my sinnes discouer:
Then thou (O Lord) diddest me forgeue,
and all my sinnes passe ouer.
The humble man shall pray therfore,
and seke thee in due time:
So that the floudes of waters great,
shall haue no power on hym.
doo compasse me about:
Thou art my refuge and my ioye,
and thou doest rid me out.
Come hither and I shall thee teache,
howe thou shalt walke a right:
And will thee guide as I my self,
haue learnd by profe and sight.
as is the horse and mule:
Whose mouth without a raine or bit,
from harme thou canst not rule:
The wicked man shall manifolde,
sorowes and grief sustayne:
But vnto him that trusteth in God,
his goodnes shall remayne.
ye iust lyft vp your voyce:
And ye of pure and perfect hart,
be glad and eke reioyce.
Exultate iusti in domino.
Psalm. xxxiii.
He exhorteth good men to prayse God, for that he hath not only created all thynges and by his prouidence gouerneth the same: but also is faythful in his promises. He vnderstandeth mans hart, and scattereth the counsell of the wicked. So that no man can be preserued by any creature or mans strength: but they that put their confidence in hys mercy, shalbe preserued from all aduersitie.
[The first parte.]
it is a semely sight:
That vpright men with thankfull voyce,
should prayse the God of might.
Prayse ye the Lorde with harp and songe,
in Psalmes and pleasant thinges:
that soundeth with ten stringes.
with courage geue him prayes:
For why? his word is euer true,
his workes and all his wayes,
To iudgement equitie and right,
he hath a great good will:
And with his gifts he doth delight,
the earth through out to fill.
the heauens all were wrought:
Theyr hostes and powers euery chone
his breath to passe hathe brought.
The waters great gathered hath he,
on heapes within the shore:
And hid them in the depth to be,
as in an house of store.
feare God and kepe hys lawe:
Ye that inhabite in eche cost,
dreade hym and stande in awe.
What he cōmaunded wrought it was,
at once with present spede:
What he doth will, is brought to passe.
with full effect in dede.
the Lorde doth driue to nought:
He doth defeate the multitude,
of their deuise and thought.
they neuer slake or swage:
The motions of his mind and will,
take place in euery age.
The secōd parte.
as God and guide is knowen:
Whom he doth chose of mere accorde:
to take them as his owne.
The Lorde from heauen cast his sight,
on men mortall by birth:
Considering from his seate of might,
the dwellers of the earth.
mans hart, and doth it frame:
For he alone doth know the thought,
and working of the same.
A king that trusteth in his host,
shall nought preuayle at length.
The man that of his might doth boast,
shall fall for all his strength.
their sturdie stedes shall sterue:
The strength of horse shall not preuaile
the rider to preserue.
But lo, the eyes of God intend,
and watche to ayde the iust:
With such as feare him to offende,
and on his goodnes trust.
may set theyr soule from dread:
in honger them to fead.
Wherfore our soule doeth still depende,
on God our strength and stay:
He is the shield vs to defende,
and driue all dartes away.
Benedicam domino.
Psal. xxxiiii.
After Dauid had escaped Achis, according as is writtē in the 1. Sa. xxi. whome in this title he calleth Abimelech (whiche was a general name to al the kings of the Philistenes) he prayseth God for his deliueraunce prouoking all others, by his example to trust in God, to feare and serue him, who defendeth the godly with his angels, and vtterly destroieth the wicked in theyr sinnes.
[The first parte.]
Unto the Lorde alwayes:
And eke my mouth for euermore,
shall speake vnto his prayes.
I doo delite to laude the Lorde,
in soule and eke in voyce:
That humble men and mortified,
may heare and so reioyce.
with me the liuyng Lorde:
together with one accorde.
For I my selfe besought the Lorde,
he answered me agayne:
And me deliuered incontinent,
from all my feare and paine.
shall see his light most cleare:
Their countenaunce shall not be dashed
they nede it not to feare.
This sely wretch for some relyef,
vnto the Lorde did call:
Who did him heare without delay,
and rid him out of thrall.
his tentes in euery place:
To saue all suche as feare the Lorde,
that nothing them deface,
Tast and consider well therfore,
that God is good and iust
O happy man that maketh hym,
his onely stay and trust.
The seconde parte.
and to my wordes geue eare:
I shall you teache the perfite way,
how you the Lorde should feare.
Who is that man that would liue long,
and leade a blessed lyfe?
Se thou refrayne thy tong and lippes,
from all disceipt and stryfe.
and doo the godly dede:
Inquire for peace and quyetnes,
and folow it with spede.
For why the eyes of God aboue,
vpon the iust are bent:
His eares like wise do heare the plaint
of the pore innocent.
vpon the wicked trayne:
And cutt away the memory,
that should of them remayne.
But when the iust doo call and cry,
the Lorde doo heare them so:
That out of paine and misery,
forthewith he letth them go.
to suche as be contrite:
He sauthe also the sorowfull,
the meke and poore in spirite.
Full many be the miseries,
that righteous men doo suffer:
the Lorde doth them deliuer,
his very bones alway:
That not so muche as one of them,
doth pearish or decay,
The sinne shall slea the wicked man,
whiche he him self hathe wrought:
And suche as hate the righteous man.
shall soone be brought to nought.
Iudica domine,
Psalm. xxxv.
So long as Saull was enemie to Dauid, all that had ani auctoritie vnder him, to flater their king did also most Cruellie persecute Dauid: against whome he prayeth God to plead & to aueng his cause, that thei maie be taken in their netts & snares, wich they laid for him, & his inocencie maie be declared. And that the inocent which taketh part with him maie reioice & praise the name of the lord that thus deliuereth his seruaunt. And so he promyseth to speake furth the iustice of the lord & to magnifie his name all the dayes of his lyfe.
[The first parte.]
confounde their force and myght:
Fyght on my part, against all those,
Lay hand vpon thy speare & shild,
thy selfe in armour dres:
stād vp for me & fight the feld,
to help me from distres.
my enemies to withstande:
That thow vnto, my soule doo saye,
lo I thy helpe at hande.
Confounde them with rebuke and blame,
that seke my soule to spill:
Let them turne backe and flie with shame,
that thinke to worke me ill.
as winde doth driue the duste:
And that the aungell of our God,
their might away may thrust.
Let all theyr wayes, be voide of light,
and slipprie lyke to fall:
to persecute them all.
in secret set their grinne:
And for no cause haue digd a caue:
to take my soule therin.
When they think least and haue no care
O Lorde destroy them all.
Let them be trapt in their owne snare,
and in theyr mischief fall.
The seconde parte.
that are bothe stout and stronge:
And ridde the poore from wicked men
that spoyle and doo them wronge.
My cruell foes against me ryse,
to witnes thinges vntrue:
And to acuse me they deuise,
of that I neuer knew.
they quite me with disdayne:
That they should pay my good with ill
my soule doth sore complayne.
and clad my selfe in sack.
With fasting I did faint full sore,
to pray I was not slacke.
I did my selfe behaue:
As one that maketh wofull chere,
about his mothers graue,
But they at my dissease did ioye,
and gather on a route:
Yea abiect slaues at me did toye,
with mockes and checks full stoute.
that all good thinges deride:
At me doe grin with great disdayne,
and plucke their mouth a syde.
Lord when wilt thou amend this geare
why doest thou stay and pause:
Oh rid my soule myne only deare,
out of these Lyons clawes.
The third parte.
theyr taulke is all vntrue:
all those that peace ensue.
With open mouth they run at me,
they gape, thei laugh, thei flere:
Well wel, say they our eye doth see,
the thyng that we desire.
sease not this geare to mende:
Be not far of nor me forsake,
as men that fayle their frend.
Awake, aryse, and stirre abrode,
defend me in my right:
Reuenge my cause my Lorde my God,
and ayde me with thy might.
my Lorde God set me free:
And let not them their pride expresse,
nor triumphe ouer me.
Let not their hartes reioyce and cry,
there, there, this geare doth trime:
Nor geue them cause to say on hye,
we haue our will of hym.
that ioy, when I do mourne:
And pay them home with spite & blame
that brag at me with scorne.
Let them be glad and eke reioyce,
which loue mine vpright waye:
And they all times with harte & voyce,
shall prayse the Lorde and saye.
Dixit iniustus.
Psalme. xxxvi.
Dauid greuously vexed by the wicked, doth complayne of their malyce & wickednes. Thē he turneth to consider the vnspeakable goodnes of God towardes all creatures: But specially towards hys children, that by faithe therof he maie be comforted and assured of his deliueraunce by this ordenary course of Gods worke, who in the ende destroyeth the wicked and saueth the iuste.
doth thus perswade my hart:
That of the Lorde he hathe no trust,
his feare is set aparte.
Yet doth he ioye in his estate,
to walke as he began:
So long till he deserue the hate,
of God and eke of man:
his tong no truth doth tell:
Yet at no hand will he be taught,
which way he may doo well.
When he should slepe then doth he muse,
his mischife to fulfill:
No wicked wayes doth he refuse,
nor nothing that is ill.
aboue the heauens high:
vnto the cloudie skie.
Much more then hilles, so high & steepe
thy iustice is exprest:
Thy iudgments like to sease most deepe
thou sauest both man and beaste.
O God it doth excell:
In trust wherof as in thy winges,
the sonnes of men shall dwell.
Within thy house they shalbe fedde,
with plenty at theyr will:
Of all delight they shalbe sped,
and take therof their fill.
doth ouer flow from thee:
And in thy light, we are full sure,
the lasting light alwayse to see.
From such as thee desire and knowe,
let not thy grace departe:
Thy righteousnes declare and shew,
to men of vpright hart.
O Lorde of thy good grace?
Nor let the wicked me assayle,
to throwe me out of place.
But they in their deuice shall fall,
that wicked workes maintaine:
They shalbe ouerthrowne with all,
and neuer rise agayne.
Noli emulari.
Psalme. xxxvii.
Because the godly shoulde not wonder to see wicked men prosper in this world: the prophet sheweth that all thinges shal be graunted according to theyr harts desire, to them that loue and feare God: & they that do the contrary, although they seme to florish for a time, shall at lengthe peryshe.
[The first parte.]
in wealth to florish styll:
Nor yet enuie suche as to ill,
haue bent and set their will.
For as grene gras & florishing herbes,
are cut and wither awaye:
So shall theyr great prosperitie,
sone passe, fade, and decay.
to do well geue thy minde:
So shalt thou haue the land as thyne,
and there sure foode shalt find.
In God set all thy harts delyte,
and loke what thou wouldst haue:
Or els canst wish in all the worlde,
thou nedest it not to craue.
on God with perfect trust:
And thou shalt see with patience,
theffect both sure and iust.
The perfect life and godly name,
he will cleare as the light:
So that the sunne, euen at none daies,
shall not shine halfe so bryght.
on God see thou wayte then:
of leude and wicked men.
Shake of despite, enuy and hate,
at least in any wise:
Their wicked steppes, auoyd and flie,
and folow not their guise.
The seconde parte.
enioy shall sea and land:
In rest and peace they shall reioyse,
for nought shall them withstand.
The leud men and malicious,
against the iust conspire:
They gnash their teeth at him, as men,
whiche doo his bane desire.
the Lorde laugh them to scorne:
For why he seeth their terme approche,
When they shall sygh and morne.
The wicked haue their sword out drawē
their bowe eke haue they bent:
To ouerthrow and kill the poore,
as they the right way went.
which was to kil the iust:
Likewise the bow shal breake to shiuers
wherin they put theyr trust.
Doubtles the iust mans poore estate,
is better a great deale more:
Then all these leud and worldly mens,
rich pompe and heaped store.
God will it ouerthrowe:
Where contrary he doth preserue,
the humble men and lowe.
He seeth by his great prouidence,
the good mens trade and way:
And will geue them inheritaunce,
which neuer shall decay.
The thirde parte.
and neuer paith againe:
Wheras the iust by liberall giftes,
makth many glad and faine.
For they whō God doth bles, shall haue
the laude for heritage:
shall pearysh in his rage.
and geuth him good successe:
To euery thing he taketh in hande,
he sendeth good addresse.
Though that he fall, yet is he sure,
not vtterly to quayle:
Because the Lord stretche out his hand,
at nede, and doth not fayle.
yet did I neuer see:
The iust man left, or els his sede,
to begge for miserye.
But geueth alwayes most liberally,
and lend the wheras is nede:
His children and posteritie,
receiue of God their mede.
and vertue doo embrace:
So God shall graunt thee long to haue
in earth a dwellyng place:
For God so loueth equitie,
and shewth to his such grace:
That he preserueth them euermore,
but destroyth the wicked race.
inherite shall the land:
Hauing as Lordes all thing therin,
in their owne power and hand.
of maters wise and hye:
His tong doth talke to edifie,
with truth and equitie.
The forthe parte.
yet God would succor send:
Though men against him sentence geue,
God would him yet defend.
Wayt thou on God, and kepe his way,
he shall preserue thee then:
The earth to rule and thou shalt see,
destroyde these wicked men.
and placed in high degree:
Florishing in all wealth and store,
as doth the Laurell tree.
But sodenly he passed away,
and lo he was quite gone:
Then I him sought, but could scarse finde
the place where dwelt such one.
how God doth him increase:
great ioy with rest and peace.
As for transgressours, wo to them,
destroyde they shall all be:
God will cut of theyr budding race,
and ryche posteritie.
Domine ne in furore.
Psalm. 38.
Dauid lying sicke of some greuous disease, acknowlegeth him selfe to be chastysed of the Lorde for his sinnes, and therfore prayeth God to tourne away his wrath, he vttereth the greatnes of his grief by many wordes and circumstances, as wounded with the arrowes of gods Ire, forsaken of his frends, euell entreated of his enemies, but in the ende with firme confidence he cōmendeth his cause to God, & hopeth for spedie helpe at hys hande.
[The first parte.]
in thy prouoked ire:
Ne in thy heauy wrath, O Lorde,
Correct me I desire.
Thine arowes doo sticke fast in me,
thy hand doth presse me sore:
And in my flesh no health at all,
appeareth any more.
thy wrath that I am in:
Nor any rest is in my bones.
by reason of my synne.
For, loe my wicked doinges, Lorde,
aboue my hed are gone,
As greater lode then I can beare,
they lye me sore vpon.
as lothesome is to see.
Which all through mine owne folishnes
betideth vnto me.
And I in carefull wise am brought,
in trouble and distres:
That I go wayling all the day
my dulfull heauines.
my flesh hath no whole parte:
I feble am and broken sore,
I rore for grefe of hart.
Thou knowst, Lord, my desire: my grones
are open in thy syght:
My hart doth pant, my strēgth hath faild
mine eyes haue lost theyr lyght.
stand lokyng in my woe:
And eke my kinesmen far away,
are me departed froe.
They that did seke my life, layd snares,
and they that sought the way:
on treason all the day.
The secōd parte.
that cannot heare at all:
And as one dumme that opens not,
his mouth to speake withall,
For all my confidence, O Lorde,
is wholly set in thee:
O Lord, thou Lorde that art my God,
thou shalt geue eare to me.
triumphe not ouer me:
For when my foote did slip then they,
did ioy my fall to see.
And truly I poore wretch am set,
in plage a wofull wight:
And eke my grefefull heauines.
is euer in my sight.
in humble wise confesse,
And while I for my sinfull dedes,
my sorow doo expresse,
My fooes doo still remayne alyue,
and mighty are also:
And they that hate me wrongfully,
in number hugely growe.
with euell doo repay,
Because that good and honest thynges,
I doo ensue alway.
be thou not far away:
Hast, me to help, my Lord my God,
my safety and my stay.
Dixi custodiam
[Psalm] xxxix.
Dauid vttereth with what great gref and bitternes of mind he was driuen to these outragious complaynts of his infirmities, for he confesseth that when he had determined sylence, that he brast forth yet in to words that he woulde not, through the greatnes of his greef. Thē he reherseth certayne requests which tast of infirmitie of man, & mixeth with them many prayers but all to shew a mind wōderfully troubled, that it may plainly appeare how he did stryue myghtlye agaynste deathe and desperatyon.
[The first parte.]
For feare I should go wronge:
I will take heede all tymes that I,
Offend not in my tounge.
As with a bit I will kepe fast,
my mouth with force and might:
Not once to whisper all the whyle,
the wicked are in sighte.
but kept me close and still,
Yea from good tallke I did refrayne,
but sore against my will.
My hart waxt whote within my brest,
with musing thought and doubte:
Whiche did encrease, and stire the fire,
at last these words brast oute.
whiche yet I haue not past:
So that I may be certifyed,
how long my lyfe shall laste,
in length muche like a spanne:
Mine age is nothing vnto thee,
so vayne is euery man.
The secōd parte.
Lorde quyteme out of hand:
And make me not a scorne to fooles,
that nothing vnderstand.
I was as dumme, and to complayne,
no trouble might me moue:
Because I know it was thy worke,
my patience for to proue.
I can them not withstande:
I faynt and pine away for feare,
of thy most heuy hand.
When thou for sinne dost man rebuke,
he waxeth wo and wanne:
As doth a clothe that mothes haue fret
so vayne a thyng is man.
Expectans expectaui.
Psalm. lx.
Dauid deliuered from great daunger, doth magnifye and prayse the grace of God for his deliueraunce, and commendith his prouidence towardes all mankynd. Then doth he promyse to geue hym self wholy to Gods seruice, and so declareth how God is truly worshipped. Afterward he geueth thanckes and prayseth God, and hauing complained of his enemies wt good courage, he calleth for aide & cuccour.
[The first parte.]
and patiently did beare:
At length to me he did accorde,
my voyce and cry to heare.
He pluckt me from the lake so deepe,
out of the mire and clay:
And on a rocke he set my feete,
and he did gide my waye.
whiche I must shew abrode:
And sing new songes of thankes alwayse,
vnto the Lorde our God,
When all the folke these thinges shall see,
as people muche afrayde.
Then they vnto the Lorde will flee,
and trust vpon his ayde.
doth in the Lorde remayne:
That with the proude doth take no part,
nor suche as lye and faine,
For Lorde my God thy wondrous dedes,
in greatnes far doo passe:
all things that euer was.
thy workes abrode to shew:
To suche a reckning they doo ryse,
therof no ende I know.
Burnt offringes thou delightste not in,
I know thy whole desire:
With sacrifice to purge their sinne,
thou doest no man require.
The second parte.
whiche thyng doth like me well:
For in my hart thy lawe I fynde,
fast placed there to dwell.
Thy Iustice and thy righteousnes,
in great resorts I tell:
Beholde, my toung no time doth cease,
O Lord thou knowest full well.
thy goodnes as by stelth,
But I declare and haue exprest,
thy truth and sauing health.
I kept not close thy louyng minde,
that no man shoulde it knowe:
to all the churche I shewe.
am sore beset aboute:
My sinnes encrease and so com on,
I can not spy them out.
the heares vpon my head:
My hart doth faynt for very drede,
that I almost am deade.
With speed send help and set me free,
O Lorde I thee require:
Make hast with ayde to succour me,
O Lorde at my desire.
that seeke my soule to spille:
Driue back my foes and them defame,
that wish and would me ill.
For their ill feates doo them discrie,
that wolde deface my name:
Alwayse at me they rayle and cry,
fie on him, fie for shame.
that seeke to thee alwayse:
That those that loue thy sauing health
may say, to God be prayse.
But as for me I am but poore,
opprest and brought full lowe:
Yet thou O Lorde wilt me restore,
to health full well I know.
Beatus qui intelligit.
Psalm. xli.
Dauid being greuously afflicted, blessed them that pitie his case, and complayneth of the treason of his owne frendes & familiars, as came to passe in Iudas. Ioh. xv. After he felyng the great mercyes of god gently chastisyng him, and not suffring his ennemies to triumphe against him, geueth most hartye thankes vnto God.
the nedie to cōsider.
For in the season perilous,
the lorde will him delyuer:
The lord wil make him safe and sound
& happy in the land:
And he will not deliuer him,
into his enemies hand.
the Lord will him restore?
And thou (O lord) will tourn to health
his sicknes and his sore.
Then in my sicknes thus say I,
haue mercy Lord on me:
And heale my soule whiche is full wo,
that I offended thee.
and thus of me did say:
When shall he die, that all his name,
may vanish quite away?
And when they come to visite me,
they aske if I doo well:
But in theyr harts mischief they hatche,
and to their mates it tell:
as though they woulde me charme:
And cast theyr fetches how to trappe
me with some mortall harme.
Some greuous sin, hath brought him to,
this sicknes, say they playne:
He is so low that without doubt,
rise can he not agayne.
with me did vse disceite:
Who at my table eat my bread,
the same for me layd wayte.
Haue mercy Lorde on me therfore,
and let me be preserude:
That I may render vnto them,
the things they haue deserude
to be beloued of thee:
When that mine enemies haue no cause
to triumph ouer me.
But in my right thou hast me kept,
and maintained alway:
And in thy presence place assignde,
where I shall dwell for aye.
be praysed euermore:
Euen so be it (Lord) will I say,
euen so be it therfore.
Quemadmodum desiderat.
Psal. xlii.
The Prophet greuously complayneth that being letted by his persecutours he could not be present in the congregation of Gods people, protesting, that although he was seperate in body from them: yet his harte was thither affectioned. And last of all he sheweth that he was not so far ouercomen with these sorowes and thoughtes, but that he continually put his confidence in the Lord.
the well springs to obteyne:
So doth my soule desire alway,
with thee Lorde to remayne.
My soule doth thirst & would draw nere
the liuing God of might:
O when shall I come and appeare,
in presence of his sight?
which from mine eyes do slide:
When wicked men cry out so fast,
where nowe is God thy guide,
Alas what grief is it to thinke,
what fredome once I had?
is moste heauy and sad.
furnished with my trayne:
Unto the temple was our way,
with songes and harts most fayne.
My soule why art thou sad alwayes,
and freatst thus in my brest?
Trust still in God, for him to prayse,
I holde it euer best.
against all payne and grief:
He is my God which with all spede,
will hast to sende relyef.
And this my soule within me (Lorde)
doth faint to thinke vpon:
The lande of Iordan, and record,
the little hill Hermon.
as cloudes burst out theyr voyce.
The floudes of euill that doo fall,
runne ouer me with noyce.
Yet I by day felt his goodnes,
and helpe at all assayes:
Lykewise by night I did not cease,
the liuyng God to prayse.
to him with pure pretence:
O Lorde thou art my guide and stay,
my rocke and my defence.
hanging the head thus walke:
While that mine enemies me oppres,
and vexe me with their talke.
with panges to be abhord:
When they cry out with stubburne harts,
where is thy God, thy Lorde?
So sone why doest thou faint and quayle
my soule with paines opprest?
with thoughts why dost thy self assayle,
so sore within my brest?
and thou the time shalt see:
To geue him thanks with laud and praise
for health restorde to thee.
Iudica me deus.
Psalme. xliii.
He prayeth to be deliuered from them whiche conspire with Absolō, to thend that he might ioyfully prayse God in his holy congregatiō.
From them that euell be:
From wicked and deceitfull men,
O Lorde delyuer me.
For of my strength thou art the God,
why puttest thou me thee fro?
And why walke I so heauily,
oppressed with my fo?
and leade me with thy grace:
Which may conduct me to thy hyll,
and to thy dwellyng place,
Then shal I to the aultar go,
And on my harpe geue thankes to thee
O God, my God most deare.
and fretst thus in my brest?
Still trust in God, for hym to prayse,
I holde it alwayes best.
By him I haue deliueraunce,
against all paines and grief:
He is my God, which doth alwayes,
at nede sende me relief.
Deus auribus nostris.
Psal. xliiii.
A moste earnest prayer made in the name of the faithfull, when they are afflicted by theyr enemies, for sustayning the quarell of gods word accordyng to the exposition of S. Paule, Roma. viii.
[The first parte.]
& reuerently recorde:
the wondrous works yt thou hast done
in alder time (O Lorde.)
How thou didst cast the Gentils out,
& stroydst them with strong hand,
& gauest to them their land.
the land of thy behest:
But by thy hande, thy arme and grace,
because thou louedst them best.
Thou art my king (O God) that holpe,
Iacob in sundry wyse:
Led with thy power, we threwe downe suche,
as did against vs rise.
they could not saue me sounde:
Thou kept vs from our enemies rage,
thou didst oure foes confound.
And still we boast of thee our God,
and prayse thy holy name:
Yet now thou goest not with our host,
but leauest vs to shame.
and so were ouer trode:
Our enemies robde & spoilde our goods
when we were sparst abrode.
Thou hast vs geuen to our foes,
Amongst the Heathen euery where,
scattered we doo remayne.
The secōd parte.
but for a common falke:
They mock, they scorn, and nod their heds
where euer they go or walke.
I am ashamd continually,
to heare these wicked men:
Yea so I blush, that all my face,
with red is couered then.
suche false report and lyes:
That death it is to see their wronges,
their threatnings and their cryes.
For all this we forgot not thee,
nor yet thy couenant brake:
We turn not back our harts from thee,
nor yet thy pathes forsake.
where dennes of dragons be:
And couered vs with shade of death.
If we had our Gods name forgot,
and helpe of idols sought:
Would not god then haue tried this out
for he doth know our thought.
alwayes are we slaine thus:
Aa shepe vnto the shambles sent,
right so they deale with vs.
Up Lorde: why slepest thou awake,
and leaue vs not for all:
Why hidest thou thy countenaunce,
and dost forget our thrall?
Eructauit.
Psalme. xlv.
The maiestie of Salomon, hys honour strengthe beauty, riches, and power are praysed, and also hys maryage with the Egiptian being a Heathen woman is blessed, if that she can renounce her people and the loue of her contrey and geue her selfe wholy to her husbande. Under the whyche fygure the wonderfull maiesties and the encrease of the kingdome of Christe and the Churche hys spouse now taken of the gentiles is described.
[The first parte.]
Some godly songe to singe?
Thy prayse I shall shew therin,
perteyneth to the kynge.
My tounge shalbe as quicke,
his honor to endite:
As is the pen of any scribe,
that vseth faste to wryte.
thy speache is pleasaunt pure:
For God hathe blessed thee with giftes,
for euer to endure.
Aboute thee girde thy sworde
O prince of might elect:
With honour glory and renoume,
thy person pure is dect.
in mekenes, truth and ryght:
And thy ryght hand, shall thee instruct,
in workes of dredfull might.
Thyne arrowes sharpe and kene,
theyr harts so sore shall stinge,
That folke shall fall and knele to thee,
yea all thy foes, O kynge.
for euer shall remayne:
Because the scepter of thy realme,
doth righteousnes maintaine.
Because thou louest the ryghte,
and dost the ill detest:
with ioy aboue the rest:
The second parte.
enclyne and geue good eare:
Thou must forget thy kindred all,
and fathers house most dere.
Then shall the king desire,
Thy beuty fayer and trim:
For why he is the Lorde thy God,
and thou must worship hym.
with giftes full riche to see:
And all the welthy of the lande,
shall make theyr sute to thee.
The daughter of the king,
is glorious to beholde:
Within his closet she doth sitte,
all dert in beaten goulde.
with many a pleasaunt thyng:
With virgins faier on her to waighte,
she cometh to the king,
and mirth on euery side:
Into the palace of the king,
and there doo they abide.
Deus noster refugium.
Psalm. xlvi.
A songe of thankes geuyng for the delyueraunce of Ierusalem after Senacherib with hys army was driuen awaye, or some otherlyke so dayne and maruelous delyueraunce by the myghtye hande of God. Whereby the Prophet commendyng thys greate benefyte dothe exhorte the faythfull to geue them selues wholy into the hande of God, doubtyng nothyng but that vnder hys protection they shalbe safe agaynste all the assaultes of theyr enemyes.
the strength wherby we stand,
when we with wo are muche dismaide,
Though thearth remoue we wil not feare,
though hilles so high & stepe,
be thrust and hurled heare and there,
within the sea so deepe.
that all the bankes it spilles:
And though it ouer flow the shore,
and beate downe mightye hilles.
For one fayer floud, doth send abrode,
his pleasaunt streames a pace:
To fresh the citie of our God.
and wash his holy place,
she can no whit decaye:
All thinges against her that rebel,
the Lord will truly staye.
The Heathen flocke, the kingdoms feare
the people make a noyse:
when God puttes forth his voyce.
to vs he hath an eye:
Our hope of health, with all our hart,
on Iacobes God doeth lye.
Come here & see, with mind & thought,
the working of our God:
what wonders he him self hath wrought
through out the earth abrod.
which countres did conspire:
Their bowes he brake & speares echone,
theyr Charets brent with fier.
Leaue of therfore (saith he) and know,
I am a God most stoute:
Among the heathen high and low,
and all the earth throughoute,
he is our strength and tower:
On Iacobs God doo we depend
and on his mighty power
Omnes gentes.
Psalme. xlvii.
The prophet exorteth all people to the worship of the true and euer liuing God, commending the mercyes of God towarde the posteritie of Iacob: and after prophecieth of the kingdome of Christ in this tune of the Gospell.
clappe handes and eke reioyce:
Be glad and sing vnto the Lorde,
with swete and pleasaunt voyce.
with wonders manifolde:
A mighty kynge he is truly,
in all the earthe extolde.
vnto our bondage thrall:
And vnderneth our fete he shall
the nations make to fall.
For vs the heritage he chose,
whiche we possesse alone:
The flouring worship of Iacob,
hys welbeloued one.
with ioy and pleasaunt noyce,
The Lorde goeth vp aboue the skye,
with trompets royall voyce.
Sing prayse to God, sing prayse,
sing prayses to our kynge:
For God is king of all the earth,
all skilfull, prayses syng.
vpon his holy throne.
The princes of the people haue,
them ioyned euery one.
To Abrams people, for our God,
whiche is exalted hye:
Us with a buckler doth defende,
the earth continually.
Magmus dominus.
Psal. xlviii.
A notable deliueraunce of Hierusalemn frō the handes of many kings is mentioned, for the which thankes are giuen to God, and the estate of that citie is praysed, that hathe God so presently at all tymes redye to defende them, this Psalme semeth to be made in the tyme of Ahaz, Iosaphat, Asa or Ezechia, for in their times chiefly, was the citie by forayne Prynces assaulted.
to be aduaunced styll:
Within the citie of our Lorde,
vpon hys holy hyll.
Mount Sion is a plesant place,
it gladdeth all the lande:
The cytie of the myghty kynge,
on her northside doth stande.
God is a refuge knowen:
For loe the kings were gathered and
together eke were gone.
But when they did beholde it so,
they wondred and they weare:
Astonyed muche and sodenly,
were driuen backe with feare.
for euery wo they crye:
As doth a woman when she shall,
go trauayle by and by,
As thou with esterne winde the shippes
vpon the sea doest breake,
So they were stayd and euen as,
we harde oure fathers speake,
we saw as it was tolde,
for euer will vpholde:
O Lorde we wayte and doo attende,
on thy good helpe and grace.
For whiche we doo all times attende,
within thy holly place.
for euer is thy prayse:
And thy ryght hand, O Lord, is full,
of rightuousnes alwayes.
Let for thy iudgements Sion mounte,
full filled be with ioyes:
And eke of Iuda graunt O Lorde,
the daunger to reioyse.
yea rounde about her go:
And tell the towres that theruppon,
are bilded in a rowe.
And marke ye well her bulwarks all,
beholde her towres there:
That ye may tell therof to them,
that after shalbe here.
for euermore is he:
yea and vnto the death also,
our guider shall he be.
Audite hæc omnes.
Psal. xlix.
The holy Ghost calleth all mē to the consideration of mans lyfe, shewwing them not to be most happye, that are most wealthy, and therefore not to be feared: but contrariwyse he lifteth vp our mindes to consider how al thinges are ruled by gods prouidence, who as he iudgeth these worldly miseryes to euerlastyng torments: so doeth he preserue his, & will rewarde them in the day of the resurrection. i. Thes. i.
[The first parte.]
To that that I shall tell:
Both high and low, both riche and poore
that in the worlde doo dwell.
For why? my mouth shall make discourse,
of many thynges right wise:
In vnderstanding shall my hart,
his study exercise.
the parables so darke.
And open all my doubtfull speache,
in metre on my harpe.
Why should I feare afflictions,
or any carefull toyle?
Or els my foes whiche at my heles,
are prest my life to spoyle?
wherin their trust is most:
And they which of their treasures greate,
them selues doo bragge and boast:
There is not one of them that can,
his brothers death redeme:
Or that can geue a price to God,
sufficient for hym.
none can therto attayne:
Or that he might his lyfe prolong,
or not in graue remayne.
They see wise men as well as foles,
subiect vnto deathes handes:
theyr goods, theyr rentes, their lāds
The seconde parte.
to be most leud and vayne:
Theyr children yet approue theyr talke,
and in like sinne remayne.
As shepe into the folde are brought,
so shall they into graue:
Death shall them eate, and in that day
the iust shall Lordship haue.
shall fade and quite decay:
When as from house to pit they passe,
with wo, and weale away.
But God will surely preserue me,
from death and endles payne:
Because he will of his good grace,
my soule receyue agayne.
feare not, I say, therfore,
Although the glory of his house,
increaseth more and more,
nothing shall he receyue:
His glory will not folow hym,
his pompe will take her leaue.
the happiest vnder sunne:
And others likewise flatter him,
saying, all is well done.
And presuppose he liue as long,
as did his fathers olde:
Yet must he nedes at length geue place:
and be brought to deathes fold.
Deus deorum.
Psalme L.
He prophecieth how God will call all nations by the Gospell, and require no other sacrifices of his people, but confession of his benefites, and thankes geuyng, and how he detesteth all such as seme zelous of Ceremonies, and not of the pure worde of God onely.
hath calde the earth by name,
from where the sonne doth rise vnto
Frō Syon hys faire place,
hys glory bryght and cleare,
The perfect beutye of his grace,
from thence it did appeare.
to speake he shall not doubte:
Before him shall the fire waste,
and tempest rounde aboute.
The heauens from on hye,
the earth below lyke wise:
He will call forth to iudge and try,
his folke he doeth deuise.
my faithfull flocke so dere:
Which are in band and league with me
my lawe to loue and feare.
the heauens shall recorde:
the iudgment of the Lorde:
My people O geue heede,
Israell to thee I crye:
I am thy God, thy healpe at neede,
thou canst it not denye.
thy sacrifice is slacke:
Thou offrest dayly vnto me,
muche more then I doo lacke.
Thinkest thou that I doo nede,
thy cattell yonge or olde:
Or ells so muche desire to feede,
on goates out of thy foulde.
in woodes that eate their filles:
And thousands more, of nete and kine,
that runne wilde in the hilles.
The birdes that builde on hie,
In hilles and oute of sight:
And the beastes that in the filds do lye
are subiect to my might.
what neede I ought of thyne.
Sith that the earth, with her great store
and all therin is myne.
To bullockes fleash haue I suche mind
to eate it, doest thou thinke?
Or such a sweetnes doo I finde,
the bloude of goates to drinke.
with thankes doo him apply:
And see thou pay thy vowes alwaies,
vnto the God most hie.
when ought would work thee blame.
And I will sure deliuer thee,
that thou maiest prayse my name.
But to the wicked traine,
whiche talke of God eche daye:
And yet theyr works are foule and vain
to them the Lorde will saye.
my worde once speake or name:
Why doth thy taulke my lawe alowe,
thy dedes denie the same.
Where as for to amend,
thy lyfe thou art so slacke:
My word the which thou doest pretend
is cast behind thy backe.
by theft to lyue in welthe:
With him thou runnest, and dost agree,
lykewyse to thryue by stealthe.
When thou doest them beholde,
that wiues and maides, defile:
Thou likest it well, and waxest boulde,
to vse that lyfe most vile.
to slaunder and defame:
and still doth vse the same.
thy frendes, to thee so nere:
With sclaunder thou woldst nedes defile
thy mothers sonne moste deare.
Hereat while I doo winke,
as though I did not see:
Thou goest on still, and so dost thinke.
that I am lyke to thee.
to stryke when I beginne:
Thy faultes in order I will set.
and open all thy sinne.
Matke this I you require,
that haue not God in minde:
Least when I plage you in myneire,
your helpe be far to fynde.
the sacrifice of prayse:
Doth please me well, and he shall see,
to walke in Godly wayse.
Miserere mei deus
Psalm. li.
When Dauid was rebuked by the Prophet Nathan for his greate offences, he did not onely acknowledge the same to God, with protestation of his naturall corruption, and iniquitie: but also left a memori all therof to his posteritie. Therfore firste he desireth God to forgeue his sinnes, and renew in him, his holye spirite: with promise that he will not be vnmindfull, of those great graces. Finally fearyng lest god would punish the whole churche for, hys faute: He requireth that he woulde rather increase his graces towardes the same.
[The first parte.]
And now with spede some pitie take?
My sinnes deface, my fautes redresse,
good Lorde, for thy great mercies sake.
Wash me (O Lord) and make me cleane.
Frō this vniust & sinfull act:
& purifie yet once againe:
my hainous crime & blody fact
Me to acknowledge myne exces:
My sinne alas doth still remayne,
Before my face without reles,
committing euyl in thy sight:
And if I were therfore condemned,
yet were thy iudgement iust & right.
that firste I was conceiued in sinne:
Yea of my mother so borne was,
and yet vile wretche remaine therin.
Also beholde Lord thou doest loue,
the inward truthe of a pure hart:
Therfore thy wisdome from aboue,
thou hast reueld me to conuert.
I shalbe cleaner then the glasse:
And if thou wash away my spot,
the snow in whitenes shall I passe.
Therfore (O Lorde) suche ioy me send,
that inwardly I may fynd grace:
And that my strength may now amend,
which thou hast swagd for my trespace
The secōd parte.
but spedely my tormentes ende:
which may from daungers me defend
Restore me to those ioyes agayne,
which I was wont in thee to fynde:
And let me thy free spirite retayne,
which vnto thee may stirre, my mind
I shall instruct others therin:
And men that are likewise brought low
by mine ensample shall flee sinne,
O God that of my health art Lorde,
forgeue me thys my bloudy vice:
My harte and toung shall then accorde,
to sing thy mercies and iustice.
(O Lord) which art the only kay:
And then my mouth shall testifye,
thy wondrous works & praise alway.
And as for outward sacrifice,
I would haue offred many one:
But thou estemest them of no pryce,
and therin pleasure takst thou none.
O Lorde, thou neuer dost reiect:
And to speake truth it is the best,
and of all sacrifice the effect.
Lorde vnto Sion turne thy face,
poure out thy mercyes on thy hyll:
And on Ierusalem thy grace,
buyld vp the walles, and loue it still.
[Miserere mei deus]
Another of the same [Psalm. li.] by T.N.
thy great abounding grace:
After thy mercies multitude
doo thou my sinnes deface.
Yet wash me more from mine offence
and clense me from my sin:
For I beknow my fautes, and still
my sinne is in mine eyen.
offended in thys case:
And euell haue I done before
the presence of thy face.
That in the thynges that thou dost say,
vpryght thou mayst be tryed:
And eke in iudging, that the dome
may passe vpon thy syde.
shape I did receyue?
And loe my sinfull mother eke
in sinne did me conceiue.
But Loe the truthe in inward partes,
is pleasant vnto thee:
And secretes of thy wisdome thou
reueled hast to me.
I shalbe clensed so:
Yea wash thou me, and so I shall
be whiter than the snow.
Of ioy and gladnes make thou me
to heare the pleasing voyce:
That so the broosed bones, which thou
hast broken, may reioyce.
Lorde turne away thy face:
And all my dedes of wickednes,
doo vtterly deface:
O God creat in me a hart
vnspotted in thy sight.
And eke within my bowels, Lorde,
renew a stable sprite.
thy holy sprite away:
The comfort of thy sauing help,
geue me againe, I pray:
With thy free sprite establish me.
And I will teache therfore,
Sinners thy wayes, and wicked shall
be turnde vnto thy lore.
from blood deliuer me:
That prayses of thy righteousnes
my tonge may syng to thee.
My lippes that yet fast closed be,
doo thou, O Lorde vnlose:
my mouth shall so disclose:
if that had pleased thee.
But pleased with burnt offringes:
I knowe thou wilt not be.
I trobled sprite is sacrifice
delytefull in Gods eyes:
A broken and an humbled hart,
God, thou wilt not despise?
to Sion, and with all
Graunt that of thy Ierusalem,
vpreard may be the wall.
Burnt offrings, giftes and sacrifice,
of iustice in that day
Thou shalt accept, and calues they shal
vpon thyne altar lay.
Quid gloriaris.
Psalme. lii.
Dauid describeth the arrogante tyrannye of hys aduersarye Doeg, Saules chief shepherde, who by false surmyses caused Achimelech with the rest of the priestes to be slain. Dauid prophecieth his destruction, and encourageth the faithfull to put theyr confidence in God, whose iudgements are most sharpe against his aduersaryes. And fynally he rendreth thankes to God for his deliueraunce, In thys Psalme is lyuely set forthe the kingdome of Antichrist.
thy wicked works to prayse:
whose mercies last alwayes,
Why doth thy mind yet still deuise,
suche wicked wiles to warpe?
Thy song vntrue in forging lies,
is like a rasour sharpe.
and wilt not walke vpryght:
Thou hast more lust false tales to fynde,
then bryng the truth to lyght.
Thou doest delyte in fraude and guile,
in mischief blud and wrong:
Thy lyppes haue learnde the flateryng style,
O false deceitfull tonge.
and pluck thee from thy place,
and so shall thee deface.
The iust when they beholde thy fall,
with feare will praise the Lorde:
And in reproche of thee withall,
cry out with one accorde.
the Lorde for his defence:
But of his goods his God did make,
and trust his corrupt sence.
But I an Oliue fresh and grene,
shall spring and sprede abrode:
For why? my trust all times hathe bene,
vpon the lyuing God.
to thee with hart and voyce:
I will set forth thy name always,
wherin thy sainctes reioyce.
Dixit in sipiens.
Psalme. Liii.
The Prophet describeth the croked nature, the crueltye, and punishment of the wicked, when they loke not for it and desireth the deliueraunce of the godlie that they may reioyce together.
within his hart hath sayde:
That there is any God at all,
hathe vtterly denyde.
They are corrupt and they also,
a haynous worke haue wrought:
Amonge them all there is not one,
of good that worketh ought.
from Heuen all abrode:
To see if any were that would.
be wise and seke for God.
They are gone all out of the way,
they are corrupted all:
There is not one doth any good,
there is not one at all.
that they do fede vpon:
My people as they fede on breade,
the Lorde they call not on.
Euen there they were afrayde and stode
with trembling all dismayde
Where as there was no cause at all,
why they should be afrayde.
hath scattered all abrode.
Thou hast confounded them, for they
reiected are of God.
O Lorde geue thou thy people health,
and thou, O Lord, fulfill:
thy promise made to Israell,
from out of Syon hill.
that erst was captiue lad,
Thou Iacob shall therin reioyse
and Israel shalbe glad.
Deus in nomine.
Psalm. Liiii.
Dauid brought into Great daunger by reasō of Ziphius, calleth vpō the name of God to destroye his enemies, promysing sacrifice and free offerings for their delyueraunce.
and for thy goodnes sake:
Unto the strength Lorde of the same
I doo my cause betake.
Regarde (O Lorde) and geue an eare,
to thee when I doo praye?
Bow downe thy sealfe to me and heare
the wordes that I doo saye.
and tirauntes vex me still:
Whiche haue not God before theyr eies
they seke my soule to spill.
But loe my God doeth geue me ayde,
the Lorde is strayght at hand.
With them by whom my soule is stayed
the Lorde doth euer stande:
for me that lye in wayte:
And with thy truth destroy my foes,
with theyr owne snare and bayte,
An offering of free hart and will,
that I to thee shall make:
And prayse thy name for therin still,
greate comfort I doo take,
from them that craft conspire:
And now mine eye with ioye doeth see,
on them my hartes desire.
Exaudi deus.
Psalme, Lv.
Dauid being in greate heauines and distres complayneth of the crueltye of Saule, and of the falshod of his familyar acquaintaunce, vtteryng most ardent affections to moue the Lord to pitie hym. After being assured of deliueraūce, he setteth forth the grace of god as though he had all ready obtayned his request.
To heare me when I praye:
And when to thee I call and crye,
hide not thy selfe awaye.
Take hede to me, graunt my request,
and aunswer me agayne:
With playntes I pray, full sore opprest,
greate grief doeth me constrayne.
oppres me through despighte.
And so the wicked sorte lykewise,
to vex me haue delighte.
For they in counsell doo conspire,
to charge me with some ill:
So in their hasty wrath and ire,
they doo pursue me styll.
it panteth in my breste:
The terroures and the dread of deathe,
doo worke me muche vnrest.
Suche dreadefull feare on me doth fall,
that I therwith doo quake:
Suche horror whelmeth me with all,
that I no shift can make.
the swift and pleasaunte winges:
and rest me from these thinges.
Lo then I woulde go farre awaye,
to flye I woulde not cease,
And I woulde hide my selfe and staye,
in some greate wildernes.
and not abide behinde:
That I weare quite and ouer past,
these blasts of boisteous winde:
Deuide them Lord, and from them pul,
their diuilish double tounge:
For I haue spied their citie full,
of rapyne, stryfe, and wronge.
doo close her as a wall:
In middes of her, is mischif stoute,
and sorow eke with all.
Her priuie partes, are wicked playne,
her dedes are muche to vyle?
And in her stretes there doth remayne,
all crafty fraude and guile.
I might it well abide:
From open enmies checke and blame,
some where I coulde me hide.
But thou, it was my fellow dere,
which frendship didest pretend:
And diddest my secrete counsell here,
as my famillier frende.
in secret and abrode:
And we together oft did walke,
within the house of God.
Let death in hast vpon them fall,
and send them quicke to hell,
For mischief rayneth in theyr hall,
and parloure where they dwell.
to him for healpe I flee:
The Lorde doth heare me by and by,
and he doeth succour me.
At morning, noone, and euening tide,
vnto the Lorde I praye:
When I so instantly haue tryed
he doth not say me naye.
though warre be now at hande:
All though the number be full greate,
that would against me stande.
The Lord, that first, & last, doth raigne
bothe now and euermore,
Will heare when I to him complayne,
and punish them full sore.
to tourne will once accorde:
For why they will not God obey,
nor doo not feare the Lorde,
Upon their frends they laid theyr hands
whiche weare in couenaunt knitte.
they passe or care no whyt.
as butter are theyr wordes:
Although his words wer smothe as oyle
they cut as sharp as swordes.
Cast thou thy care vpon the Lorde,
and he shall nourish thee:
For in no wise wyll he accorde,
the iust in thrall to see.
that thirst for bloud alwayes:
He will no guilefull man permit,
to lyue oute halfe hys dayes.
Thoughe such be quite destroyde & gon
in the (O Lorde) I trust:
I shall depende thy grace vpon,
with all my hart and luste.
Miserere.
Psalme. Lvi.
Dauid being broughte to Achis the kinge of Gath, Saum complayneth of hys enemyes, demaundeth succoure, putteth hys trust in God and hys promisses, and promiseth to performe hys vowes whyche he had taken vpon hym. Wherof thys was the effecte to prayse God in hys Churche.
for man woulde me deuoure:
He fyghteth with me day by daye,
and troubleth me eche houre.
Myne enmies dayly enterprise,
to swalowe me outeryghte:
To fyght agaynst me many ryse,
O thou moste hygh of myghte,
with boast and bragges of pryde:
I trust in thee alone for ayde,
by thee will I abyde.
Gods promise I doo minde and prayse
O Lorde I sticke to thee:
I doo not care at all assayes,
what flesh can doo to me.
they wrast them at theyr will:
And all the counsell that they take,
is how to worke me ill.
They all consent them sealues to hyde,
close watche for me to laye:
They spie my pathes & snares haue tred
to take my lyfe awaye.
thow God on them will frowne:
For in his wrath he doth not let,
to throwe whole kingdomes downe.
Thou seest how oft they make me flee,
and on my teares doest looke:
Reserue them in a glas by thee.
and wryte them in thy booke:
my foes awaye doo starte.
I well perceaue it by that same,
that God doeth take my parte:
I glory in the worde of God,
to prayse it I accorde:
the promise of the Lore.
as I afore beganne:
The Lorde he is my healpe and stay,
I doo not care for man.
I will performe with hart so free,
to God my vowes alwayes:
And I O Lorde all times to thee,
will offer thankes and prayse.
and keepe my feete vpright:
That I before thee may ascend.
with suche as lyue in lyght.
Miserere.
Psalme. lvii.
Dauid being in the deserte of Ziph where the inhabitauntes did betraye hym, and at length in the same Caue with Saull. Calleth most earnestly vnto God with full confidence, that he will perform his promis and take his cause in hand: Also that he wil shew his glory in the Heauens and the earthe agaynst hys cruell enemyes: Therfore doth he render laude and prayse.
haue mercy Lorde on me:
For why my soule doth her betake,
vnto the helpe of thee.
Within the shadow of thy winges,
I set my selfe full fast:
Till mischief, malice, and lyke thyngs,
be gon and ouer paste.
to whom I sticke and stand:
the cause I haue in hand.
From heauen he hath sent hys ayde,
to saue me from theyr spighte:
That to deuoure me haue assayed,
his mercy truth and myght.
all set on wrath and ire:
And with such wicked men I dwell,
that freate lyke flambes of fyre.
Theyr teeth are speares & arrowes lōg
as sharpe as I haue seene:
They wound & cut, with theyr quick toūg
like swerdes and weapons kene,
aboue the heauens bryght:
Exalt thy prayse on earth abrode,
thy maiestie and myghte.
They lay theyr net and doo prepare,
a priuie caue and pitte:
Wherin they thinke my soule to snare,
but they are fallen in it.
in hym to ioye alwayes.
My hart I say doth well accorde,
to syng hys laude and prayse.
Awake my ioy, awake I saye,
my lute, my harpe and strynge:
For I my sealf before the daye,
will rise, reioyce and syng
the goodnes of my God:
And shew hys prayse that doeth excell,
in Heathen landes abrode.
His mercy doeth extend as farre,
as heauens all are hie:
His truthe is highe as any starre,
that standeth in the skye,
aboue the heauens bryghte:
Extoll thy prase on earthe abrode,
thy maiestie and might.
Siuere vtique.
Psalme. lviii.
He describeth the malyce of hys enemyes, the flatterers of Saule, who bothe secretlye and openly sought hys dystruction, from whom he apealeth to Gods iudgement, shewing that the iust shall reioyce, when they see the punishment of the wicked to the glory of God.
to iudge of wronge and ryght:
Be all your iudgements true and iust
not knowing nede or might.
Nay, in your hartes ye marke and muse,
in mischief to consent:
And where ye shoulde true iustice vse,
your handes to brybes are bent.
haue erred on this wise:
And from their mothers womb alwaie,
haue vsed craft and lyes.
In them the poyson and the breathe,
of serpents doo appeare:
and fast doeth stoppe his eare.
of one that charmeth well:
No though he were the chefe of choice,
and did therin excell.
O God breake thou their teeth at once,
within their mouthe throughoute:
The tuskes that in their great chawbones
lyke Liones whelpes hange oute.
as water renth fourth right:
The shafts that they doo shoute in haste,
let them be broke in flight.
As snailes doo wast within the shell,
and vnto slime doo runne:
As one before his time that fell,
and neuer saw the sunne.
to bushes bigge shall growe:
The stormes of anger waxing stronge,
shall take them ere they knowe.
The iust shall ioy, it doth them good,
that God doeth vengance take:
And they shall wash their feete in bloud,
of them that him forsake.
that good men haue rewarde.
And that a God in yearth doeth dwell,
that iustice doeth regarde.
Eripe me.
Psalme. lix.
Dauid being in great daunger of Saull, who sent to slaye him in his bed, prayeth vnto God, declareth his innocency, and theyr furye, desyryng god to destroye all those that synne of malityous wickednes. Whom thoughe he kepe aliue for a tyme to exercyse his people, yet in the ende he wyll consume them in his wrathe, that he maye be knowne to be the God of Iacob to the worldes ende, for thys he singeth prayses to God, assured of his mercyes.
O Lorde I pray to thee,
defende and kepe me from all those
that ryse and stryue with me
O Lorde preserue me from those men,
whose doings are not good,
and set me sure and saufe from them
that thursteth after bloud.
they rage agaynst me styll:
Yea, for no faulte that I did make,
I neuer did them ill.
They runne & do their selues prepare,
When I no whit offende:
Arise and saue me from theyr snare,
and see what they entend.
arise vp and strike all landes:
And pittie none that doth rebell,
and in their mischife standes.
At night they stirre and seke aboute,
as houndes they houle and grenne:
And all the citie cleane throughoute,
from place to place they renne.
but in theyr lyppes weare swordes:
They greed my death, and then wold saye
What? none doth heare our wordes.
But Lord thou hast theyr waies espied
and laught therat a pace:
The Heathen folke thou shalt deride,
and mocke them to theyr face.
O Lorde doth come of thee:
My God he is my healpe at hand,
a forte of fence to me.
The Lorde to me doeth shew his grace,
in greate abondaunce styll:
suche as my hart doeth wyll.
lest it from minde doo fall:
But with thy strength driue them abrode
and so consume them all.
For theyr ill words and trutheles toung
confounde them in theyr pryde:
Theyr wicked othes with lies & wrong
let all the worlde deryde.
that naughte of them remayne:
That men may know throught the worlde
Iacobs God doth raygne.
At euening retourne apace,
as dogges they grinne and crye.
Throughoute the stretes, in euery place
they renne aboute and spye.
but let them not be fed:
Nor fynde an house wherin they may,
be bolde to put theyr head.
But I will shew thy strength abrode,
thy goodnes I will prayse:
For thou arte my defence and God,
at nede in all assayes.
O Lorde I synge to thee:
Thou arte my forte, my fence and ayde,
a louing God to me.
Deus repulsit.
Psalme. lx.
Dauid being now king ouer Iudah and hauing had many victories, sheweth by euydent signes, that God elected hym kyng, assuring the people that God will prosper them, yf they approue the same: After he prayeth vnto God to fynish that that he hathe begone,
and scatteredst vs abrode:
Suche greate displeasure thou diddest take
retourne to vs O God.
Thy might did moue the lande so sore,
that it in sonder brake:
The hurte therof (O Lorde, restore,
for it doothe bowe and quake.
the people that are thyne:
And thou hast geuen vnto vs,
a drinke of deadly wyne.
But yet to suche as feare thy name,
a token shall ensue:
That they may tryumphe in the same,
because thy worde is true.
thy folke that fouour thee:
That they thy helpe, at hand may haue,
O Lorde graunte thys to me.
The Lorde did speake from his owne place,
thys was his ioyful tale:
I will deuide Sichem by pace,
and mete oute Sucrothes vale.
Manasses mine beside.
my law dothe Iuda guide:
In Moab I will wash my feete,
ouer Edom throw my shoo:
And thou Palestine oughtst to seke,
for fauoure me vnto.
vnto the citie stronge:
Or who to Edom will me gide,
so that I goo not wronge.
Wilt thou my God which didst forsake
thy folke, theyr land and costes:
Our warres in hād, thou woldst not take.
nor walke amonge our hostes.
from them that vs disdayne:
The healp that hostes of men can geue
it is but all in vayne.
But through our God, we shall haue might
to take great things in hand:
He will treade downe and put to flight
all those that vs withstand.
Exaudi deus.
Psalme. lxi.
Whether that he were in daunger of the Amonites, or beyng purfusued of Absalon, Here he crieth to be heard and delyuered. And confirmed in his kingdom, He promiseth perpetuall prayses.
let not my wordes returne in vayne,
but geue an eare to me,
from of the costes and vtmost partes
of all the earth abrode,
in griefe and anguish of my harte
I cry to thee, O God.
my woefull mynde repose:
Thou arte my hope my forte and tower,
my fence against my foes.
Within thy tent I lust to dwell,
foreuer to endure:
vnder thy winges I know right well,
I shalbe safe and sure:
with goodly giftes will he rewarde,
all them that feare his name.
The king shall he in health maintayne,
and so prolong his dayes:
That he from age to age shall raygne,
for euer more alwayse.
before the Lorde for aye:
O let thy mercy truth and grace,
defend him from decaye.
Then shall I singe for euer still,
with prayse vnto thy name:
That all my voues I may fulfill,
and dayly pay the same.
Nonne deo subiecta.
Psalm. lxii.
Dauid declareth by hys example, and by the nature of God, that he must truste in God alone: and thereunto exhorteth people, seyng that all is vanytie and withoute God all goeth to nought and we are allwayes taught that God only is of power to saue, and that he rewardeth man, according to hys workes.
and him alone entende:
For why? my health & hope to spede,
doth whole on him depende.
For he alone is my defence,
my rocke, my health, my ayde:
He is my stay that no pretence,
shall make me much dismaide.
vse crafts? sure ye must fall:
For as a rotten hedge ye be,
and like a tottering wall.
to put hym to the worse:
Ye loue to lye, with mouth ye prayse.
and yet your hart doth curse.
on God my chief desire:
From all false feates, me to defend,
none but him I require.
He is my rocke, my strength, my towre,
my health is of his grace:
He doth support me that no powre,
can moue me out of place.
my soules desire and lust,
My fort, my strength, my stay, my wealth.
God is mine onely trust.
Oh haue your hope in him alway,
ye folke with one accorde:
Poure out your harts to hym, and saye,
our trust is in the Lorde.
on balaunce but a sleyght:
With thinges most vayne doo them cōpare
for they can kepe no weyght.
Trust not in wrong, robbry, or stealth,
let vayne delytes be gon:
Though goods wel got flow in with welth
set not your hartes theron.
whiche here to minde I call:
that God alone doeth all.
And that thou (Lorde) art good and kynd,
thy mercy doth excede:
So that all sortes whiche thee shall finde,
according to theyr dede.
Deus deus meus.
Psalme. lxiii.
Dauid after he had bene in greate daunger by Saule, in the deserte Ziph, made this psalme: wherein he geueth thankes to God for hys wonderfull deliuerance, in whose mercyes he trusted, euen in the middist of hys miseryes: prophecying the destruction of Gods enemies, & contrarywyse, happynes to all them that trust in the Lorde, i. Sa. iii.
to come to thee in hast:
For why? my soule and body bothe,
doth thirst of thee to tast:
And in this baren wildernes,
where waters there are none:
My flesh is partched for thought of thee,
for thee I wish alone.
thy glory strength and myght:
As I was wont it to beholde,
within thy temple bryght.
For why? thy mercyes farre surmount,
thys lyfe and wretched dayes:
My lyppes therfore shall geue to thee,
due honor, laude and prayes.
to worship thee alwaye:
And in thy name I shall lyft vp,
My soule is filled as with marow,
whiche is bothe fat and swete:
My mouth therfore shall sing such songs
as are for thee most mete.
and eke all the night tide
For vnder couert of thy winges,
thou art my ioyfull guyde,
My soule doeth surely stick to thee,
thy ryghthande is my power:
And those that seke my soule to stroy,
them death shall sone deuoure.
theyr carcases shall fede:
The hungry foxes, which doo ronne,
theyr pray to seke at nede.
The king, and all men shall reioyse,
that doo profes Gods worde:
For liers mouthes shall then be stopt,
which haue the trueth disturbde.
Exaudi deus vocem meam.
Psal. lxiiii.
Dauid praieth against the false reportes and sklaunderers, he declareth theyr punishment and destruction, to the comfort of the iust, and the glory of God.
with plaint when I doo pray:
And rid my lyfe and soule from feare,
of foes that threat to slay,
Defend me from that sort of men,
whiche in deceipts do lurke:
And from the frownyng face of them,
that all ill feates doo worke.
men whet and sharp theyr swordes:
They shote abrode theyr arrowes kene,
I meane most bitter wordes.
With priuie sleyght shote they theyr shaft
the vpright man to hit:
The iust vnware to strike by craft,
they care or feare no whit
in counsell thus they crye:
To vse deceit let vs not dread,
what? who can it espie?
What wayes to hurt they talke and muse,
all times within theyr hart:
They all consulte what feates to vse,
eche doth inuent his part.
when they thinke least vpon:
God with hys dart shall sure assayle,
and wound them euery one.
Theyr crafts and their ill toungs withall,
shall worke them selues suche blame:
That they whiche then beholde theyr fall,
shall wonder at the same.
that God the thing hath wrought:
Shall prayse his wittie workes and tell,
what he to pas hath brought.
Yet shall the iust in God reioyse,
Stil trusting in his might:
whose hart is pure and ryght.
Te decet hymnus.
Psalm. lxv.
A prayse and thankesgeuing vnto God by the faithfull, who are signyfied by Sion, and Ierusalem, for the chosing, preseruation and gouernaunce of them, and for the plentyfull blessings powred forth vpon all the earthe.
in Sion thine owne hill:
Theyr vowes to thee they doo maintaine
and their behestes fullfill.
For that thou doest theyr prayer heare
and dost therto agree:
Thy people al bothe far and neare,
with trust shall come to thee.
that we should fall therin:
But Lorde forgeue our great misdeedes,
and purge vs from our synne.
The man is blest whom thou doest chuse,
within thy courte to dwell:
Thy house and temple he shall vse,
with pleasures that excell.
our health of thee doth ryse:
The hope of all the earth abrode,
and the sea coasts like wise.
With strength thou art beset about,
and compasd with thy power:
Thou makst the mountayns strong & stout,
to stand in euery shower.
and make their streames full styll:
Thou dost restrayne the peoples rage,
and rule them at thy will.
The folke that dwell full farre on earth,
shall dread thy signes to see:
Whiche morne and euen in great mirth,
doo passe with prayse to thee.
and thirsteth more and more:
Then with thy dropes thou dost applye,
and muche encrease her store.
The floud of God doth ouerflow,
and so doth cause to sprynge:
The seede and corne which men doo sow,
for he doth guide the thing.
wherby her cloddes doo fall:
Thy drops to her, thou dost distill,
and bles her frute withall.
Thou deckst the earth of thy good grace,
with fayre and pleasaunt crop:
Thy cloudes distill theyr deaw a pace,
great plenty they doo drop.
full great encrease to bryng:
The litle hilles shall ioy therin,
muche frute in them shall spryng.
In places playne the flocke shall fede.
and couer all the earth:
that men shall sing for mirth.
Iubilate deo omnis terra.
Psal. lxvl.
He prouoketh all men to prayse the Lorde, & to considre his workes, rehersing two thinges most wonderful. He setteth forth the power of God to affray the rebels, and sheweth how God hath delyuered Israell from great bondage and afflictions, he promiseth to geue sacryfyce, and prouoke all men to heare what God hath done for hym and to prayse hys name.
[The first parte.]
with prayse set forth his name:
Extoll his might with hart and voyce
geue glory to the same.
How wonderfull, O Lorde, say ye,
in all thy workes thou art:
Thy foes for feare doo seke to thee,
full sore agaynst theyr hart.
doo prayse the name of God:
The laude therof the worlde about,
is shewd and set abrode.
All folke come forth beholde and see,
what things the Lord hath wrought
Mark wel the wōdrous works that he,
for man to passe hath brought.
therin away they had:
On fote to pas both fair and drye,
wherof theyr harts were glad.
His might doth rule the world alwaye,
his eyes all thynges behold:
All suche as would him disobey,
by hym shalbe controld.
due laude and thankes alwayes,
With ioyfull voyce declare abrode,
and syng vnto hys prayse.
Whiche doth endue our soule with life,
and it preserue with all:
He stayeth our fete so that no stryfe,
can make vs slippe or fall.
The secōde part.
on vs to ryde and raygne:
Though we through fyre and water ren
of very grief and payne.
Yet sure thou dost of thy good grace,
dispose it to the best:
And bring vs out into a place,
to liue in wealth and rest.
to offer and to pray:
And there I will my selfe applye,
my vowes to thee to pay.
The vowes that with my mouth I spake
in all my grief and smart:
in dolor of my hart.
of Oxen fat and Rammes:
No other sacrifice shalbe,
of bullockes goates and lamkes.
Come forth and harken here full sone,
all ye that feare the Lorde:
What he for my poore soule hath done.
to you I will record.
thys mouth to him doth crye:
And thou my tonge make spede apace,
to prayse hym by and by,
But if I fele my hart within,
in wicked workes reioyce:
Or if I haue delyte to syn,
God will not heare my voyce.
Deus misereatur nostri.
Psalme. lxvii.
A swete prayer for all the faythfull to obteyne the fauor of God, and to be lyghtened with hys countenaunce, to thende that hys way and iudgements may be knowne throughout the earth. A reioysing that God is the gouernor of all nations.
and graunte to us thy grace:
To shew to vs doo thou accorde,
the bryghtnes of thy face,
That all the earth may knowe,
thy way to godly wealth:
And all the nations on a row,
may see thy sauyng health.
geue prayse vnto thy name:
O let the people all abrode,
Extoll and laude the same.
Thoroughout the worlde so wyde
let all reioyce with mirth:
For thou with truth & right dost guide
the nations of the earth.
geue prayse vnto thy name:
Oh let the people all abrode.
extoll and laude the same.
Then shall the earth encrease,
Great store of frute shall fall:
And then our God, the God of peace,
Shall bles vs eke with all,
and then bothe farre and neare,
The folke throughout the earth alway,
of him shall stande in feare.
Exurgat deus.
Psal. lxviii.
In this Psalm Dauid setteth forth as in a glas, the wonderfull free mercyes of God towardes his people, who by all meanes, and moste straunge sorts declareth him self to them. And therfore Gods church by reason of his promises, graces and victoryes, doth excell without comparyson al worldly thyngs: he exhorteth therfore all men to praise God for euer.
[The first parte.]
wil turn them selues to flyght:
His enmies then will runne abrode,
and scatter out of syght,
& as the fire doth melt ye wax,
& wind blow smoke awaye:
so in the presence of ye lord,
the wicked shal decay
shall hartely reioyce:
They shalbe glad and mery all,
and chearefull in their voice.
Sing prayse, sing prayse vnto the Lord
who rideth on the skie:
Extoll this name of Iah our God,
and him do magnifie:
within his holy place:
That father is of fatherles,
and iudge of widowes case.
Houses he geuth and issue bothe,
vnto the comfortles
He bringeth bondmen out of thrall,
and rebelles to distres.
the Egiptians from among:
And brought thē through the wildernes,
whiche was both wide and long
Thearth did quake, ye rain powred downe
heard were great claps of thunder,
The mount Sinai shoke in such sort,
as it would cleaue a sunder.
The second parte.
to magnifye his name:
When as his people triumphes make,
and purchase brut and fame.
For puissant kinges for all their power
shall flee and take the foyle.
And women whiche remayne at home,
shall helpe to part the spoyle.
your hew should pas the doue:
whose winges and fethers seme to haue,
siluer and gold aboue.
when in this land God shall triumphe,
ouer kynges bothe hyge and lowe,
Then shall it be lyke Salmon hyll,
as whyte as any snowe.
and in heyght others pas:
Yet Sion Gods most holy hyll,
doth farre excell in grace.
Why brag ye thus, ye hils most high,
and leape for pride together?
This hill of Sion God doth loue,
and there will dwell for euer.
of warriours good and strong:
The Lorde also in Sinai,
is present them among.
Thou didst (O Lord) ascend on high,
and captiues led them all:
whiche in times past thy chosen flock,
in prison kept and thrall.
and suche as did repine.
Thou didst subdue that they might dwell,
in thy temple deuine.
Now praysed be the Lord for that,
he powreth on vs suche grace:
of our health and solace.
The thirde parte.
saluation commeth playne:
He is the God by whom we scape:
all daungers death and payne.
Thus god wil wound his enemies head
and breake the heary scalpe:
Of those that in theyr wickednes,
continually doo walke.
my people and my shepe:
And all mine owne as I haue done,
from daunger of the depe,
And make them dip theyr fete in bloud,
of those that hate my name:
And dogs shal haue theyr tongs embrude
with licking of the same.
thyne enemies dost deface:
And how thou goest as God and kyng,
into thy holy place.
The singers goo befrre with ioy,
the minstrels folow after:
And in the midst the damsels play,
with timbrell and with taber.
(O Israell) prayse the Lord:
And Iacobs whole posteritie,
geue thankes with one accorde.
but Iuda made theyr host:
With Zabulon, and Neptalim,
whiche dweld about theyr cost,
The forthe parte.
shall doo lyke in those dayes:
I meane to thee they shall present,
theyr gifts of laude and prayes,
He shall destroy the spear mens rancks
these calues and bulles of myght:
And cause them tribute pay, and daunt,
all suche as loue to fyght.
and presents with them bryng:
The mores most black shall stretch their hāds
vnto their lord and king.
Therfore ye kingdomes of the earth,
geue prayse vnto the Lorde:
Sing Psalmes to God with one cōsent,
therto let all accorde.
aboue the heauens bryght:
men may well know hys myght.
Therfore the strength of Israell,
ascribe to God on hie:
Whose mighte and power doth far extēd
aboue the cloudy skye.
Saluum me fac domine.
Psalm. lxix.
The complayntes, prayers, feruent zele, and great anguish of Dauid is set forth as a figure of Chryst, and all hys membres: the malicious crueltye of thenemies, and theyr punishment also where Iudas and suche traytours are accursed. Then gathered he courage in hys affliction and offereth prayses vnto God, whych are more acceptable then all sacrifyces: wherof all the afflicted may take comforte. Finallye he doth prouoke all creatures to prayses, prophecying of the kyngdome of Chryst, and the buildyng of Iuda, where all the faythful and their sede shall dwell for euer:
[The first parte.]
the waters flowe full fast:
So nie my soule doo they procede
that I am sore agast.
I sticke full depe in filthe and clay,
I fall into suche flouds, I say,
that I am like be drounde.
my throte is horse and drye:
With loking vp my sight doth fayle,
for helpe to God on hye.
My foes that giltles doo oppres.
my soule, with hate are led:
In number sure they are no les,
then heares are on my hed.
they prosper and are glad:
They doo compell me to restore,
the thynges I neuer had.
What I haue done for want of wit,
thou Lorde all times canst tell:
And all the same that I commit,
to thee is knowne ful well.
al those that trust in thee:
for ought that chaunceth me,
It is for thee and for thy sake,
that I doo beare this blame:
In spite of thee they would me make,
to hyde my face for shame.
The second parte.
yea if I wepe and mone:
Yet in my teath this geare is cast,
they passe not thereupon.
If I for grief, and payne of hart,
in sackcloth vse to walke:
Then they anone will it peruert,
therof they iest and talke.
that sit within the gate:
They haue me euer in theyr tong,
of me they talke and prate.
The dronkards whiche in wine delyte
it is their cheif pastime:
To seke whiche may to worke me spite,
of me they sing and rime,
that when it pleaseth thee.
For thy great truth thou wilt alwaye,
sende downe thyne ayde to me.
Pluck thou my feete out of the myre,
from drowning doo me kepe:
From suche as owe me wrath and ire,
and from the waters depe.
and depth my soule deuouer:
And that the pit should me confound,
and shut me in her power.
O Lorde of hostes to me geue eare,
as thou arte good and kynde.
And as thy mercy is most deare,
Lorde haue me in thy mynde.
The thirde parte.
thou knowest and thou canst tell:
For those that seke and worke the same,
thou seest them all full well.
When they with brags doo breake my hart
I seke for helpe anone.
to comfort me not one,
to cruell for to thynke:
And gaue me in my thirst withall,
stronge vineger to dryncke.
Lorde turne their table to a snare,
to take them selues therin.
And when they thinke full well to fare,
then trap them in the gin.
that they may nothyng see:
Bow downe their back & doo thē binde,
in thraldome for to be.
Powre out thy wrath as hoate as fyer,
that it on them may fal:
Let thy displeasure in thyne yre:
take holde vpon them all.
their offring eke expell:
That none therof posses their place,
nor in their tents doo dwell:
If thou dost strike the man to tame,
on him they lay full sore.
And if that thou do wounde the same,
they seke to hurt him more:
The forth parte.
haue bene full sore opprest?
Thy helpe shall geue me suche relief,
that all shall be redrest.
That I may geue thy name the prayse,
and shew it with a song:
I will extoll the same alwayes,
with harty thankes among.
(Such minde thy grace hath borne:)
Then either Oxe, or Calfe can be,
that hath bothe hoofe and horne.
When simple folke doo this beholde,
it shall reioyce them sure:
All ye that seke the Lorde, beholde,
your lyfe for aye shall dure.
the poore when they complayne:
His prisoners are to him full deare,
he doth them not disdayne.
wherfore the skie and earth belowe,
The sea with floud and stream:
His prayse they shall declare and showe
with all that liue in them.
Deus in adiutorium.
Psalme. lxx.
He prayeth to be ryght spedely delyuered as in the .lx. Psalm. Then he desireth the shame of hys enemyes, and the ioyfull comforte of all those that seke the Lorde.
of helpe I thee require:
O Lorde of hosts with hast and spede
helpe, helpe, I thee desire.
With shame confound them all,
that seke my soule to spill.
Rebuke them backe with blame to fall
that thinke and wish me ill.
and seke to worke me shame:
And at my harme, do laugh and crye,
so, so, there goth the game.
But let them ioyfull be,
in thee with ioy and wealth:
Which only trust and seke to thee,
and to thy sauing health.
in mirth and one accorde:
All glory, honor, laude and prayse,
be geuen to thee (O Lorde.)
But I am weake and poore,
come Lorde thine ayde I lacke:
make spede and be not slack.
In te domine speraui.
Psalm. lxxi.
He prayeth in fayth establyshed by the worde of the promise, and confirmed by the worke of God, from his youth he desireth now to be deliuered from the wicked and cruell man (meanyng) his sonne Absolō, and his confederacy, and he promiseth to be mindefull and thankefull for the same.
[The first parte.]
my hope is whole in thee:
Then let no shame my soule oppres,
nor once take holde on me.
As thou art iust defend me Lorde,
and rid me out of drede:
Geue eare, and to my suite accorde,
and send me helpe at nede.
for ayde all times resort:
Thy promise is to helpe alwaye,
thou art my fence and fort.
Saue me my God, from wicked men,
and from theyr strength and powre:
From folke vniuste, and eke from them,
that cruelly deuoure,
thou Lorde of hosts art he:
Yea from my youth I had a lust,
still to depend on thee.
Thou hast me kept euen from my birth
and I through thee was borne:
wherfore I will thee prayse with mirth,
bothe euening and morne.
muche folke about me thronge:
But thou art now and still hast bene,
my fence and ayde so stronge.
Wherfore my mouth no time shall lacke,
thy glory and thy prayse:
And eke my tong shall not be slack,
to honor thee alwayse.
The second parte.
for God from him is gone:
Dispatch him quyte, for to hys ayde,
iwis there commeth none.
Doo not absent thy self away,
O Lorde, when nede shalbe:
But that in time of grief thou may,
in hast geue helpe to me.
all those that seke my lyfe:
Oppres them with rebukes also,
that fayne would worke me stryfe,
But I wil patienly abide,
thy helpe in all assayes:
I will set forth thy prayse.
that dayly helpe doth sende:
But of thy benefyts, O Lorde,
I knowe no compt nor ende.
Yet will I goo and seke forth one,
with thy Good helpe (O God)
The sauing health of thee alone,
to shew and set abrode.
and dost instruct me styll:
Therfore thy wonders to declare,
I haue great minde and will.
And as in youth from wanton rage,
thou didst me kepe and stay:
Forsake me not vnto mine age,
and tyll my head be gray.
to them that now be here:
And that our sede thy power may know
hereafter many a yere.
O Lord thy iustice doth excede,
thy doinges all may see:
Thy workes are wonderfull in dede,
oh, who is lyke to thee?
and yet thou didst me saue:
Yea thou didst helpe and me restore,
and take me from the graue.
my dignitie maintayne:
Yea thou dost make all grief to cease,
and comfort me agayne:
I will bothe lute and sing:
My harp shall sound thy laude alwayes
O Israels holy king.
My mouth will ioy with pleasant voyce
when I shall sing to thee:
And eke my soule will muche reioyce,
for thou hast made me free.
Deus iudicium tuum.
Psal. lxxi.
He prayeth that the kingdom of God by Christ may come vnder the parson of Salomon vnder whom shall be rightuousnes, peace & felicitie, vnto whom all kinges, and all nations shall doo homage, whose name and power shall indure for euer.
[The first parte.]
therin instruct him well:
And with his sonne that Princely thyng.
That he may gouerne vp ryghtly,
And rule thy folke a ryghte:
and so defende throughe equitie,
the poore that haue no myght.
vnto their folke geue peace,
And eke let litle hils applye,
in iustice to encrease.
That he may help the weake and pore,
with ayde and make them stronge:
And eke destroy for euermore,
all those that doo them wrong.
regarde and feare thy might:
So long as Sunne doth shine by daye,
or els the moone by night.
Lorde make the king vnto the iust,
like rayne to fields new mowen:
And like to droppes that lay the dust,
and fresh the land vnsowen.
and all shalbe at peace:
Untill the mone shall leaue to prime,
wast, chaunge, and to encrease,
He shalbe Lorde of sea and sand,
from shore to shore throughout:
And from the flouds within the land,
through all the earth about.
The second parte.
in his good grace to stand:
And all the people of the world,
shall serue him at his hande.
For he the neady sort doth saue,
that vnto him doo call,
And eke the simple folke that haue,
no helpe of man at all,
that are with nede opprest.
He doth preserue them euermore,
and bring their soules to rest.
He shall redeme theyr lyfe from dread,
from fraud, fom wrong, from might:
And eke the bloud that they shall blead,
is precious in his sight.
to him of Sabaes golde?
He shalbe honored as a kyng
and dayly be extold.
The mightie mountaines of his land,
of corne shall beare such throng:
That it lyke Cedre trees shal stand,
in Libanus full long,
the frutes therof shall pas:
In plenty it shall far excede,
and spring as grene as grasse.
For euer they shall prayse his name,
while that the sunne is lyght:
And think them happy through the same
all folke shall bles his myght.
Quam bonus deus.
Psal. lxxiii.
The prophet teacheth by his example, that neyther the worldly prosperitie of the vngodlye, nor yet the affliction of the good, ought to discourage Gods children: but rather ought to moue vs to consider oure fathers prouidence, and to cause vs to reuerence Gods iudgementes for asmuche as the wicked vanysh away like smoke, and the vngodly enter into lyfe euerlastyng, in hope wherof he resigneth himselfe into Gods handes.
[The first parte.]
and kynde to Israell:
And to all suche as safely kepe,
theyr conscience pure and well.
Yet lyke a foole I almost slypt,
my feete began to slide:
And or I wist euen at a pinch,
my steps a wrye gan glyde.
I grudge and did disdayne:
That wicked men all thinges should haue,
without turmoyle or payne.
They neuer suffer panges nor grief,
as if death shoulde them smite:
Theyr bodyes are bothe stoute and strong,
and euer in good plyte.
when other men be shent:
And with the rest they take no parte,
of plague or punishment,
Therfore presumption doth embrace,
theyr necks as doth a chayne:
And are euen wrapt as in a robe,
with rapine and disdaine.
their eyes oft times out start:
And as for worldly goodes they haue.
more then can wish theyr hart,
Theyr lyfe is moste licentious,
boastyng muche of the wrong:
Which they haue done to simple men,
and euer pryde among.
The second parte.
should know and vnderstand:
These worldly thinges since wicked men,
be Lordes of sea and land?
For we may see how wicked men,
in riches still increase:
Rewarded well with worldly goodes,
and lyue in rest and peace.
my fantasy refrayne:
And wash my handes with innocentes.
and clense my hart in vayne?
And suffer scourges euery day,
as subiect to all blame:
susteyne rebuke and shame?
misliking mine estate:
But that I should thy children iudge,
as folke vnfortunate.
Then I bethought me how I might,
thys matter vnderstande:
But yet the labor was to great,
for me to take in hand,
thy holy place, and then,
I vnderstode right perfectly,
the ende of all these men.
And namely how thou settest them,
vpon a slippery place:
And at thy pleasure and thy wyll,
thou dost them all deface.
The thirde parte.
my minde was much opprest:
So fond was I and ignorant,
and in this point abeast,
thou holdest me alwayes fast:
And with my counsell dost me guyde,
to glory at the last.
but thee in heauen aboue?
And in the earth there is nothyng,
lyke thee that I can loue.
My flesh and eke my hart do fayle,
but God doth fayle me neuer:
For of my hart God is the strength,
my portion eke for euer.
Vt quid deus.
Psalme. lxxiiii.
The faythfull complayne of the destruction of the church and true relygyon, vnder the name of Sion and the aultars destroyed: And trustyng in the myght and free mercyes of God, by hys couenaunt they require help and succor for the glory of Gods holy name, the saluatyon of his pore afflicted seruaunts & the cōfusion of his proud enemies
[The first parte.]
in all this daunger depe?
Why doth thine anger kindle thus,
at thyne owne pasture shepe?
Lorde call the people to thy thought,
which haue ben thine so long:
from bondage sore and strong.
remember it full well:
Thy pleasant place thy mount Sion,
where thou wast wont to dwell.
Lift vp thy fote and come in hast,
and all thy foes deface:
Whiche now at pleasure rob and wast
within thy holy place.
thine enemies roare (O God:
They set as signes on euery wall,
theyr banners splayde abrod.
As men with axes hew the trees,
that on the hils do grow:
So shine the bils and swords of these,
within thy temples now.
the godly grauen stones:
With axces, hammers, billes & swordes
they beate them downe at ones.
Thy places they consume with flame,
and eke in all this toile:
The house appointed to thy name,
they race downe to the soyle.
dispatche them out of hand:
Then burnt they vp in euery part,
Gods houses through the land
our Prophets all are gone:
To tell when this our plage shuld ende
among vs there is none.
The second part.
and euermore hast ben:
Yea thy good grace throughout the world
for our good helpe hathe seen.
The seas that are so depe and dead,
thy might did make them drye:
And then didst breake the serpents head,
that he therin did dye.
of whales that are so fell:
And gauest them to the folkes to eate,
that in the desertes dwell.
Thou madest a spring with streames to rise
from rock both hard and hye:
And eke thy hand hath made lyke wyse,
depe riuers to be drye.
by thee they were begonne,
the light and eke the sunne,
Thou doest appoint the endes and costs
of all the earth about:
Both sommer heates, and winter frosts,
thy hand hath founde them out.
thy foes that thee defame:
And how the folish folke are set,
to rayle vpon thy name.
O let no cruell beast deuoure,
thy Turtle that is true:
Forget not alwayes in thy powre,
the poore that much doo rue.
thy foes posses, the lande:
All sad and darke, forworne and old,
our realme as now doth stand.
Let not the simple go away,
with disapointed shame:
But let the poore and nedye aye.
geue prayse vnto thy name.
Confitebimur tibi deus.
Psalm. lxxv.
The faythfull doo prayse the name of the Lord whiche shall come to iudge at the time appoynted, when the wicked shal be put to confusion, and drynke of the cup of his wrath, theyr prayer shall be abated, & the righteous shall be exalted to honor.
we will geue thankes to thee.
Sith thy name is so nere, declare,
thy wondrous workes will we.
I will vprightly iudge, when get,
conuenient tyme I may.
The earth is weake and all therin:
but I her pillers stay.
deale not furiouslye:
And vnto the vngodliones,
set not your hornes so hie.
I sayd vnto them, set not vp,
your raysed hornes on hye,
And see that you doo with stiffe neck,
not speake presumptuously.
nor from the westernside,
Nor from forsaken wildernes,
protection doth procede.
For why the Lorde our God, he is,
the righteous iudge alone:
He putteth downe the one, and sets
another in the throne.
is in the hand of God:
him self doth poure abrode.
As for the lees and filthy dregges,
that doo remayne of it.
The wicked of the earth shall drinke,
and suck them euery whyt.
Gloria patri.
To father, sonne, and holy ghost,all glory be therfore:
As in beginning was, is now,
and shalbe euermore.
In Iudea.
Psalme. Lxxvi.
This Psalme setteth forthe the power of God and care for the defence of hys people in Ierusalem, in the destruction of the armie Senacherib: And exhorteth the faythfull to be thankefull for the same.
the Lorde is clerly knowen:
His name is great in Israell,
a people of his owne.
At Salem he his tents hath pighte,
to tary there a space:
In sion eke he hathe delyghte,
to make his dwellyng place.
the sworde the speare and shilde:
And brake the ray to ouerthrowe,
in battell on the fielde.
Thou arte more worthy honour, Lord,
more mighte in thee dothe lye:
Then in the strongest of the worlde,
that rob on mountayes hye.
and they are fallen on sleepe:
Through men of warre no helpe can be
them selues they coulde not kepe.
At thy rebuke (O Iacobs God,
when thou doost them reprone:
As halfe in slepe theyr charets, stoode,
no horsman once doth moue.
what man the corage hathe:
To bide thy sight and doth not dreede,
when thou art in thy wrath.
Whē thou dost make thy iudgmēts hard
from heauen through the grounde:
Then al the earth, full sore, afearde.
in silence shalbe founde.
in iudgement for to speake:
To saue thafflicted of the lande,
on earth that are full weake,
The fury that in man doth raygne,
shall tourne vnto thy prayse:
theyr wrath and threates alwayes,
ye folke that nigh him bee:
Bring giftes all ye that dwell abrode,
for dreedfull sure is he.
For he doth take bothe lyfe and might.
from Princes great of birth:
And full of terroure is hys sighte,
to all the kinges on earth.
Voce mea ad dominum.
Psalm. lxxvii.
The Prophet in the name of the churche, rehearseth the greatnes of his affliction, and his greuous temptation, wherby he was driuen to thys end to consider his formore conuersacion, & the continuall cours of Gods worckes in the preseruation of his seruauntes, and so he confirmeth his fayth agaynst these temptacyons.
with harte and harty cheare,
my voyce to God I lyfte on hyghe
and he my sute doth heare,
in tyme of grief I sought to God,
by nyght no rest I toke:
my soule comfort forsoke.
my troble then is more:
I spake but could not make an ende,
my breath was stopt so sore.
Thou houldst myne eys alwayse from rest,
that I alwayes awake:
With feare am I so sore opprest,
my speche doeth me forsake.
and oft did thinke vpon:
The times and ages that are past,
full many yeares agon.
By night my songes I call to mynde,
once made thy prayse to shew:
And with my hart, much taulke I finde,
my spirites doth searche to knowe.
cast of his people thus?
So that henceforthe no time he shall,
be frendly vnto vs.
What, is hys goodnes cleane decayed,
for euer and aday?
and doeth his truthe decaye?
his mercyes manifolde:
Or shall his wrath encrease so whot,
his mercy to with holde:
At last I sayde my weakenes is,
the cause of this mistrust.
Gods mighty hand, can healpe all thys,
and chaunge it, when he lust.
the workyng of the Lorde:
Of all his wonders past and gone,
I gladly will recorde.
Yea all his workes I will declare,
and what he did deuise:
To tell his factes I will not spare,
and eke his counsell wyse.
and holy all abrod:
What one, hath strēgth to match ye mighte
of thee O Lorde our God.
Thou art a God, that oft dost show,
thy wonders euery hower:
And so doest make the people knowe,
thy vertue and thy power.
with strength and stretched arme?
The sonnes of Iacob that discend,
and Iosephes seede from harme.
the waters saw thee well:
And they for feare a side did flee,
the depthes on trembling fell.
The clouds that were, both thick & black
did rayne full plenteously:
The thonder in the ayer did cracke,
thy shaftes abrode did flye.
the lightening from aboue,
With flashes greate made men afearde,
the earth did quake and moue.
Thy wayes within the sea do lye,
thy pathe in waters depe:
Yet none can there, thy steppes espye.
nor know thy pathe to kepe.
as shepe on euery syde:
Through Moses & through Aarons hand
thou didst them safely gide.
Attendite popule.
Psal. lxxviii.
He sheweth how God of his mercy chose hys church of the posteritie of Abraham, castyng in theyr teth the stubburne rebellion of theyr fathers that the children might not only vnderstand, that god of his fre mercies made his couenant with theyr auncestors, but also seyng thē so malitious and peruerse, might be ashamed & so turn wholy to god. In this Psalme the holy Ghost hathe comprehended, as it were the sum of all Gods benefites, to thintent the ignoraunt and gros people mighte see in few wordes the effect of the whole historyes.
[The first parte.]
My mouthe shall speake straunge parables,
and sentences deuyne.
Which we our selues haue hard & lernd,
euen of oure fathers olde,
& whiche for our instruction
our fathers haue vs tolde.
from them that shoulde come after.
Who should Gods power to theyr race praise,
and all his workes of wonder.
To Iacob he commaundment gaue,
how Israell should lyue:
Willyng our fathers shoulde the same,
vnto theyr children geue.
that were not sprong vp tho:
and teache theyr seede also.
That they may haue the better hope,
in God that is aboue:
And not forget to kepe his lawes,
and his precepts in loue.
rebellyng in Gods syght:
And would not frame their wicked harts
to know theyr God a ryght.
How went the people of Ephraim,
theyr neyghbours for to spoyle?
Shoting their dartes the day of warre,
and yet they toke the foyle.
The second parte.
did he him selfe disclose:
In Egipt land, within the field,
that called is Thaneos?
He did deuyde, and cut the sea,
that they might pas at once:
And made the water stand as styll,
as doth an heape of stones,
by day when it was bryght:
And in the night when darke it was,
with fire he gaue them lyght.
He brake the rocks in wildernes,
and gaue the people drynk:
As plentifull as when the depes,
doo flow vp to the brynk.
that were bothe drye and harde:
Of suche aboundaunce that no floudes,
to them might be compard.
Yet for all this, against the Lorde,
theyr sinne they did increase:
And styred hym that is most hygh,
to wrath in wildernes.
lyke people of mistrust:
Requiring such a kynd of meate,
as serued to theyr lust.
Saying with murmuration,
in theyr vnfaythfulnes:
What can this God prepare for vs,
a feast in wildernes?
The thirde parte.
beleue and hope that he:
Could alwayes help and succor them,
in theyr necessitie.
Wherfore he did commaund the clouds
forthwith they brake in sundre:
And raind down Manna for thē to eate
a foode of mickell wondre.
were fed at theyr request:
He bad the east wynde blow away,
and brought in the south west.
And raind downe flesh as thick as dust
and foule as thick as sand:
Whiche he did cast amids the place,
where all the tents did stand.
and all men had theyr fils:
Yet more and more they did desire,
to serue theyr lusts and wils.
But as the meate was in theyr mouthes
his wrath vpon them fell?
And slew the floure of all theyr youth,
and choyse of Israell.
and still they did him greue:
For all the wonders that he wrought.
they would him not beleue.
and made theyr honor vayne:
Theyr yeares did wast and pas away,
with terrours and with payne.
The forthe parte.
to him nor to his trade:
Nor yet to kepe or to performe,
the couenaunt that was made,
Yet was he still so mercifull,
when they deserued to dye:
That he forgaue them their misdedes,
and would not them destroy,
and did himselfe auise:
And would not suffer all hys whole,
displeasure to aryse.
Considering they were but fleshe,
and euen as a wynde:
That passeth away and cannot well,
retourne by his owne kynde.
did they their Lorde prouoke:
to plage them with hys stroke?
Yet did they turne agayne to sinne,
and tempted God eftsone:
Prescribing to the holy Lorde,
what thinges they would haue don,
nor of the day when he:
Deliuered them out of the bondes,
of the fierse ennemie.
Nor howe he wrought his miracles,
as they them selues beheld:
In Egipt, and the wonder that
he did in Zoan field.
theyr waters into bloud
That no man might receyue his drink,
at riuer nor at floud.
Nor how he sent them swarmes of flies
whiche did them sore annoy
And fild theyr countreys full of frogs,
whiche should theyr lande destroy.
vnto the Caterpiller.
And all the labour of theyr handes,
he gaue to the Grashopper.
With haylestones he destroid their vines
so that they were all lost:
And not so much as wylde figge trees,
but he consumde with frost.
the Lorde their cattell smote:
And all their flocks and heards like wise
with thunderbolts full hote.
He cast vpon them in his ire,
and in his fury strong:
Displeasure, wrath, and euill spirites,
to trouble them amonge.
and spared not the least:
But gaue vnto the pestilence,
the man and eke the beast.
He strake also the first borne all,
that vp in Egipt came:
And all the chief of men and beastes,
within the tents of Ham.
he did preserue and kepe:
And caried them through wildernes,
euen lyke a flocke of shepe.
Without all feare, both safe and sound,
he brought them out of thrall:
Where as theyr foes with rage of Sea
were ouerwhelmed all.
of his owne holy land:
Euen to the mount whiche he had got,
by his strong arme and hand.
And there cast out the Heathen folke,
and did theyr land deuyde:
of Israell to abide.
The .vi. parte.
with offerings, and with fire:
And with theyr Idols vehemently,
prouoked him to ire.
Therwith his wrath began agayne,
to kindle in his brest:
The naughtines of Israell,
he did so muche detest.
of Silo where he was:
Right conuersant with earthly men,
euen as his dwelling place.
Then suffred he his might and power,
in bondage for to stand:
And gaue the honor of his Arcke
into his enemies hand.
wroth with his heritage:
The yong men were deuoured with fire
maids had no mariage,
did pearish euerychone:
And not a widow left alyue,
theyr deathe for to be mone,
lyke one that slept a tyme:
Or lyke a valyant man of warre,
refreshed after wyne.
With Emerods in the hinder partes,
he strake his enemies all:
And put them then vnto a shame,
that was perpetuall.
of Ioseph did refuse:
As for the tribe of Ephraim,
he would in no wise chuse.
But chose the tribe of Iehuda,
where as they thought to dwell:
Euen the noble mount Sion,
whiche he did loue so well.
both sumptuously and sure:
Like as the earth which he hath made
for euer to endure.
Then chose he Dauid, him to serue,
his people for to kepe:
Which he toke vp and brought away,
euen from the foldes of shepe.
Deus venerunt gentes.
Psalm. lxxix.
The Israelites complayne to God for the greate calamitie, and oppression that they suffered when Antiochus destroyed theyr temple, and citie Ierusalem, desiring God aide against his ragyng tyrannye, lest Gods name and religion shoulde be contemned amonge the Heathen, whyche should see them thus forsaken and pearyshe.
Thyne herytage to spoyle:
Ierusalem an heape is made,
thy temple they defoyle.
The bodies of thy sainctes most dere,
abrode to birdes they cast:
The fleshe of them that doo thee feare,
the beastes deuoure and wast.
as water spilt they haue:
So that there is not one of them,
to lay theyr dead in graue.
Thus are we made a laughing stocke,
almost the world throughout:
The enemies at vs iest and mock,
whiche dwell our coastes about.
against vs euer fume?
And shew thy wrath as hoate as fyre,
thy folke for to consume?
whiche did thee neuer know:
All realmes whiche call not on thy name
consume and ouerthrow.
and Iacobs sede destroyd:
His habytacion and hys land,
they haue left wast and voyd.
Beare not in minde our former faultes,
with spede some pitie shewe:
And ayde vs Lorde, in all assaults,
for we are weake and low.
on vs declare the same:
Mey not our works, oure sinnes deface
for honor of thy name.
Why shall the wicked still alwaye,
to vs as people domme:
In thy reproche reioyse and say,
where is theyr God become:
before our eyes in syght:
Of all these folke thy seruauntes bloud,
whiche they spilt in despight.
Receyue into thy syght in hast,
the clamours grief and wrong:
Of suche as are in prison cast,
susteyning yrons strong.
Lorde set them out of bande:
and in theyr enemies hand.
The nations which haue ben so bolde,
as to blaspheme thy name:
Into their laps with seuen fold,
repay agayne the same.
will prayse thee euermore:
And teache all ages for to kepe,
for thee lyke prayse in store.
Qui regis Israell.
Psalme. lxxx.
A lamentable prayer to God to helpe the miseryes of the Churche, desiring him to consider theyr firste estate, when his fauoure shined towardes them, to the entent that he might finish that worke that he had begon.
geue eare and take good hede:
Which leadest Ioseph lyke a sheepe,
and doest him watche and feede.
Thou Lorde I say whose seate is set.
on cherubins so bryght:
shew forth thy selfe and do not let,
send downe thy beames of lyght.
Manasses eke lykewyse:
To shew thy power doo thou begin,
come healpe vs Lorde aryse.
Direct our harts vnto thy grace,
conuert vs Lorde to thee.
Shew vs the brightnes of thy face,
and then full safe are wee.
How long wilt thou I saye.
Agaynst thy folke in anger swell,
and wilt not heare them pray.
Thou dost them fede with sorrowes depe
their breade with teares they eate:
And drinke the teares that they do wepe
in measure full and greate.
to those that dwell aboute:
And that our foes do loue of lyfe,
they laugh and iest it oute.
O take vs Lorde vnto thy grace,
conuert our mindes to thee:
Shew forth to vs thy ioyfull face,
and we full safe shalbe.
thou broughtest a vine full deare:
The Heathen folke thou diddest expell,
and then diddest plant it here.
Thou diddest prepare for it a place,
and set her rootes full fast:
That it did growe and sprynge a pace,
and fill the land at last.
with shade that from it came:
And eke the Ceders high, and stoute,
with braunches of the same.
Why then diddest thou her wal destroy
her hedg pluckt vp thou hast:
thy vine may spoyle and waste:
doeth digge and rote it oute:
The furious beastes out of the field,
deuoure it all aboute,
O Lorde, of hostes retourne agayne,
from heauen loke betime:
Beholde and with thy healpe sustayne,
this poore vineyard of thyne.
whom thy right hand hath set:
The sonne whiche thou didst loue so wel,
O Lorde doo not forget.
They loppe and cut it downe apace,
they burne it eke with fyre:
And through the frowning of thy face,
we perish in thine ire.
whom thou hast kept so longe:
And with the sonne of man whom thou,
to thee hast made so stronge.
And so when thou hast set vs free,
and saued vs from shame:
Then will we neuer fall from thee,
but call vpon thy name.
conuert vs vnto thee:
Beholde vs with a Pleasaunte face,
and then full safe are wee.
Exultate deo,
Psalme. lxxxi.
An exhortation to prayse God bothe in harte and voyce for his benefytes, and to worship him only: God condemneth the ingratitude, and sheweth what greate benefites they haue loste thorowe theyr owne malyce.
which is our strength & staie
be ioyfull and lyfte vp your voyce,
to Iacobs God I say,
prepare your instrumentes most mete
some ioyfull psalme to synge,
stryke vp with harp and lute so swete
on euery pleasant stryng.
with trumpets of the best:
As it is vsed to be done,
at any solemne feast.
For this is vnto Israell,
a statute and a trade:
A lawe that must be kept full well,
which Iacobs God hath made.
when he from Egipt came:
That as a witnes all his sede,
shoulde still obserue the same.
When God I say, had so preparde,
to bryng him from that land:
Where as the speach which he had heard,
he did not vnderstand.
the burden cleane awaye:
And from the furnace quit him free,
from burnyng bricke of claye,
When thou in grief, diddest cry and cal
I holpe thee by and by:
And I did aunswer the withall,
in thunder secretly.
I did thee tempt and proue:
Wheras the goodnes of the Lorde,
with muttering thou diddest moue,
Heare O my folke, O Israell,
and I assure it thee:
if thou wilt cleaue to me.
of any land abrode:
Nor in no wise to bow or serue,
a straunge and forraine God.
I am the Lorde, thy God, and I,
from Egipt set thee free:
Then aske of me aboundauntly,
and I will geue it the.
my voyce when that I spake:
Nor Israell would not obey,
but did me quite forsake.
Then did I leaue them to their will,
in hardnes of theyr hart
To walke in theyr owne counsels still,
them selues they might peruert.
the wordes that I did say:
And eke that Israell would regarde,
to walke within my waye.
How soone would I cōfound their foes,
and bring them downe full lowe:
And tourne my hand vpon all those,
that woulde them ouerthrowe.
as slaues shoulde seke him till:
But of his folke the time and age,
should florish euer still,
and finest of the wheate:
And make the rock with hony droppe,
that they theyr filles should eate.
Deus stetit in Sinagoga.
Psalm. lxxxii.
The Prophet declaring God to be present amongest the iudges and maiestrates, reproueth their parcialitie and vnrighteousnes, and exhorteth them to doo iustice, but seeyng no amendemente, he desireth God to vndertake the matter, and execute iustice hym selfe.
The Lorde him selfe did stand:
To pleade the cause of truth and ryght,
with iudges of the land.
How long (said be) will you procede,
false iudgement to awarde?
And haue respect for loue of mede,
the wicked to regarde?
the fatherles and weake:
And when the poore man doth contend,
in iudgement iustly speake.
If ye be wyse defende the cause,
of poore men in theyr ryght:
And ryd the nedie from the clawes,
of tyrants force and myght.
in vayne to them I talke:
They will not see or ought discerne,
but still in darknes walke.
For lo, euen now the tyme is come,
that all thynges fall to nought:
for gayne are sold and bought.
as Gods to take you all:
And children to the most of myght,
for loue I did you call.
But not withstanding ye shall dye,
as men, and so decay:
O tyrannes I shall you destroye,
and plucke you quyte away.
and iudge the worlde with might:
For why? all nations are thyne owne,
to take them as thy ryght.
Deus quis Similis.
Psalme. lxxxiii.
The people of Israell pray vnto the Lord to delyuer them from theire enemies bothe at home and far of, which imagined nothing but their destruccyon: and they desyre that all suche wicked people maye, according as God was accostomed, be stricken with the stormye tempests of Gods wrathe, that they maye know that the Lord is most hye vpon the earthe.
in silence, doo not staye:
Withholde not Lord thy selfe so long
nor make no more delaye.
For why, beholde thy foes and see.
how they doo rage and crye,
And those that beare an hate to thee,
holde vp theyr heades on hye.
and craftly they enquire:
For thine elect to lye in wayte,
theyr councell doth conspire
and plucke these folke awaye:
So that the name of Israell,
may vtterly decay.
how they may thee withstand:
Agaynst the Lorde to take a parte,
they are in league and bande.
The tentes of all the Edomites,
the Ismalites also:
The Hagarenes and Moabites,
with diuers other more.
dothe Amalece conspire:
The Phillistines against thee ryse,
with them that dwell at Cyre.
And Assur eke is well apaide,
with them in league to be:
And doeth become afence and ayde,
to Lots posteritie.
so serue them Lorde echeone:
As to Cicer and to Iabin,
beside the broke kison.
Whom thou in Endor diddest descry,
and wast them through thy might,
That they like doung on earth did lye,
and not in open sighte.
like Zeb and Oreb then:
the kynges of Madian.
Whiche said, let vs throughout the land,
in all the costes abrode:
Posses and take into our hand,
the fayer houses of God.
as wheeles that haue no staye:
Or lyke as chaffe, whiche men doo cast,
with windes to flee awaye.
Lyke as the fire, with rage and fume,
the mightye forest spilles:
And as the flame doth quyte consume,
the mountaynes and the hilles.
vpon theyr neckes be layde:
And of thy stormy wynde and shower,
Lorde make them all afrayed.
Lorde brynge them all I thee desire,
to suche rebuke and shame
That it may cause them to enquire,
and learne to seke thy name.
to shame and sclaunder fall
And in rebuke and oblique,
to perish eke with all.
That they may know & fele full well,
that thou art called Lord
And that alone thou doest excell,
and raygne throughout the worlde.
Quam dilecta tabernacula.
Psal. lxxxiiii.
Dauid driuen forth of his countrey desireth most ardently to come agayne to the Tabernacle of the Lord, and the assembly of the saincts to prayse God, pronouncing them blessed that may so doo. Then he prayseth the courage of the people, that passe thorow the wildernes to assemble them selues in Sion. Finally with prayse of this matter & confidence of Gods goodnes he endeth the Psalme.
(O Lorde of hostes) to mee:
The Tabernacles of thy grace,
how pleasaunte Lorde they bee.
My soule doth longe, full sore to go,
into thy courtes abrode:
My hart doth lust, my flesh also,
in thee the liuing God.
and saue them selues from wrong:
And eke the swalow hath a neste,
wherin to kepe her yong.
These birdes full nigh, thine aulter maye)
haue place to sitte and synge:
O Lorde of hostes thou art I say,
my God and eke my kynge.
within thy house alwayse:
For they all tymes thy factes doo tell,
and euer geue thee prayse.
Yea happy sure lykewise ar they,
whose staye and strength thou art:
Which to thy house doo minde the way,
and seke it in theyr hart.
they digge vp fountaynes still:
and thou theyr pittes doest fill.
From strength to strength they walke full fast
no fayntnes there shalbe:
And so the God of Gods at laste,
in Sion they doo see.
and heare when I doo praye:
And let it through thine eares procede,
O Iacobes God I saye.
O Lorde our shilde, of thy good grace,
regarde and so draw nere:
Regarde (I say) beholde the face,
of thyne anoynted deere.
is better to abyde:
Then other where to keepe or staye,
a thousand dayes beside.
Muche rather would I kepe a dore,
within the house of God:
Then in the tents of wickednes,
to settle mine abode.
will grace and worship geue:
And no good thing shall he witholde,
from them that purely lyue.
O Lorde of hostes, that man is blest,
and happy sure is he:
That is perswaded in his brest,
to trust all times in thee.
Benedixisti domine.
Psalme, lxxxv.
Because God with drewe not his roddes from his churche after the retorne from Babilon, first they put him in mind of theyr delyueraūce to the entent that he should not leue the worcke of his grace vnperfite: next they complaine of theyr long affliction: And thirdlye the reioyce in hope of felicytie promised for their deliueraunce, was a figure of Christes kingdome, vnder which should be perfit felycitie,
O Lorde vnto thy land:
For thou restoredst Iacobs sede,
from thraldom oute of bande.
The wicked wayes that they were in,
thou didst them cleane remitte:
And thou didst hide thy peoples sinne,
full close thou coueredst it.
that all thy wrath was gon:
And so didst tourne the from thy rage,
with them to be at one.
O God, our health, doo now conuert,
thy people vnto thee:
Put all thy wrath from vs aparte,
and anger cese to be.
but still procede on vs?
And shall thy wrath it selfe extend,
vpon all ages thus,
Wilt thou not rather tourne therfore,
and quicken vs that we:
And all thy folke may euermore,
be glad and ioy in thee.
thy goodnes, to our welth:
thine ayde, and sauing health.
I will hark, what God saith, for he,
speaketh to his people peace,
And to his sainctes that neuer they,
returne to folishnes.
to suche as him doo feare:
Wherby great glory in our lande,
shall dwell, and florish there.
For truth, and mercy there shall mete,
in one to take their place:
And peace also, iustice greete with kis,
and there they shall imbrace.
and florish pleasauntly:
So righteousnes, shall shew her face,
and loke from heauen hye.
Yea, God him selfe shall take in hand,
to geue vs eche good thinge:
And through the costes of all our land,
the earth her frutes shall bringe.
muche lyke a guide or stay:
He shall direct his steppes also,
and kepe them in the way.
Inclina domine aurem.
Psalm. lxxxvi.
Dauid sore afflicted and forsaken of all, prayeth feruently for delyueraunce: Somtimes rehearsing his miseryes, somtymes the mercyes receyued, desiring also to be enstructed of the Lord that he may feare hym also and gloryfye his name. He complayneth also of his aduersaryes, and requyreth to be delyuered from them,
and heare me by and by:
With greuous payn and gref opprest
full poore, and weake am I.
Preserue my soule, because my waye,
and doinges holly bee:
And saue thy seruaunte, O my Lorde,
that puttes his trust in thee.
defend me eke with all:
For through the day I doo not cease,
on thee to crye and call.
Comfort O Lorde thy seruaunts soule,
that nowe with payne is pinde:
For vnto thee Lorde I extoll,
and lift my soule and minde.
thy giftes of grace are free:
And eke thy mercy plentifull,
to all that call on thee.
O Lorde lykewise when I doo pray,
regarde and geue an eare:
Mark well the words that I doo say.
and all my prayers heare.
to thee I doo complayne:
For why I know and well doo proue,
thou answerest me agayne.
Among the Gods (O Lorde) is none,
with thee to be comparde:
the lyke hath not ben harde.
whiche thou didst make and frame.
Before thy face, on knees will fall,
and gloryfye thy name.
For why thou art so muche of might,
all power is thine owne:
Thou workest wonders still in sight,
for thou art God alone.
shall in thy truth procede:
O ioyne my hart to thee so nye,
that it thy name may dreade.
To thee my God, wil I geue praise,
with all my hart (O Lord:
And gloryfie thy name alwayse,
for euer through the worlde.
is great aud doth excell:
Thou settest my soule, at libertie,
out from the lower hell.
O Lorde the proude against me ryse,
and heapes of men of might,
They seeke my soule, and in no wise,
will haue thee in theyr sight.
full slacke and slow to wrath:
Thy goodnes is full greate, and eke,
thy truth no measure hathe.
thy strength to me apply:
O help and saue thine owne seruaunte,
thy handmaides sonne am I.
On me some signe of fauour shew,
that all my foes may see:
And be ashamed because (Lorde) thou,
doest helpe and comfort me.
Fundamenta eius.
Psalm. lxxxvii.
The holy Ghost promiseth that the condicion of the Church, whiche was in miserye after the captiuitie of Babilon, shoulde be restored to great excelency, so that there should be nothing more comfortable thē to be nombred among the membres therof.
her ground worke still doth staye:
vpon the holy hilles full sure,
it can no time decaye.
God loues the gates of Sion best.
hys grace doth there abyde:
He loued them more then all the rest,
of Iacobs tents beside.
in Sion and abrod:
Great thinges I say, are sayd of thee,
thou citie of our God.
On Rahab I will cast an eye,
and beare in minde the same:
And Babilon shall eke applye,
and learne to know my name.
with Ethiope likewise:
were borne and there did rise.
Of Sion they shall say abrod,
that diuers men of fame:
Haue there sprong vp and the hie God,
hath founded fast the same.
through Gods deuise appere:
Of Sion that the chefe of all,
had his beginning there.
The trumpetters with such as syng,
therin great plenty be:
My fountayns & my pleasant springs
are compast all in thee.
Domine deus salutis.
Psalme. lxxxviii.
A grieuous complaynt of the faythfull, sore afflicted by sicknes persecution and aduersitie: being as it were left of God without any consolation? yet he calleth on God by fayth and striueth against desperation, complayning him selfe to be forsaken of all yearthly healpe.
thou art alone to me,
I call & cry throughoute the daye,
and all the nighte to thee.
O let my prayers sone ascende,
enclyne thyne eare O Lorde entend,
and herken to my cry.
and doth in trouble dwell:
My lyfe and breath almost doth yelde,
and draweth nye to hell.
I am estemd as one of them,
that in the pit doo fall:
And made as one, among those men,
that haue no strength at all.
from things that heare remayne:
It weare more easy for me to be,
with them the whiche are slayne.
As those that lye in graue I saye,
whom thou hast cleane forgot,
The whiche thy hand hath cut away:
and thou regardst them not.
within the lower pit:
and in the depth of it.
Thyne anger, and thy wrathe likewise
full sore on me doth lye:
And all thy stormes agaynst me ryse,
my soule to vex and trye.
and makst them hate me sore.
I am shut vp in prison fast,
and can come forth no more.
My sight doth faile through grefe & wo,
I call to thee O God:
Throughout the day, my handes also,
to thee I stretche abrode.
thy wondrous workes of fame?
Shall dead to lyfe agayne repayre,
and prayse thee for the same?
Or shall thy louing kindnes Lorde.
be preached in the graue:
Or shall with them that are destroyd,
thy truth her honor haue?
of all thy wonders wotte?
Or there shall they thy iustice knowe,
where all thinges are forgot?
But I (O Lorde) to thee alwaye,
doo crye and call apace:
My prayer eare it be daye,
shall come before thy face.
in grefe that seeketh thee?
And now O Lorde why dost thou hide,
thy face awaye from me?
I am afflicte as dying still,
from youthe this many a yere:
Thy terrours whiche doo vexe me ill,
with troubled minde I beare.
full sore vpon me fall:
Thy terrours eke, doo not asswage,
but me oppres with all.
All day they compas me aboute,
as water at the tide:
And all at once with streames ful stoute
beset me on eche side.
and louers euery one
Yea and mine oulde acquaintance all,
out of my sight are gone,
Miserecordias domini.
Psalme. lxxxix.
With many words doth the prophet prayse the goodnes of God, for his testament and couenaunt that he had made betwene him and his elect by Iesu Christ the sonne of Dauid: Then dothe he complayne of the greate ruine and desolation of the kingdome of Dauid so that to the outward aperaunce, the promis was broken. Finally he prayeth to be delyuered from his aflictions. making mention of the shortnes of mans lyfe, and confirming him selfe by Gods promises.
my tounge shall neuer spare:
And with my mouth from age to age,
thy truthe I will declare.
for euermore remayne:
In that thou dost the heauens stay
thy truth appeareth playne.
a couenant and be hest:
My seruaunt Dauid to perswade,
I swore and did protest.
Thy seede for euer I will stay,
and stablish it full fast:
And still vphoulde thy throne alway,
from age to age, to last.
thy wondrous workes O Lorde:
Thy saincts within thy church on earth
thy faith and truth recorde.
Who with the Lorde is equall then,
in all the cloudes abrode?
Amonge the sonnes of all the Gods,
what one is like our God.
is greatly to be drad:
And ouer all that dwell about,
in terror to be had,
Lorde God of hostes, in all the worlde,
what one is lyke to thee:
On euery side most mighty Lorde,
thy truthe is sene to be.
thou rulest at thy wyll:
thou makst them calme and still.
And Egipt thou Lord hast subdued
and thou hast it destroyed.
Yea thou thy foes with mighty arme,
hast scattred all abrode.
lykewyse the earth and laude:
The worlde with all that is therin.
thou foundest with thy hand.
Both north and south, with est and west
thy selfe didst make and frame:
Both Tabor mount and Hermon
reioyse and prayse thy name,
all might therin doth lye:
The strength of thy right hand eche houre
thou liftest vp on hie.
In righteousnes and equitie,
thou hast thy seate and place:
Mercy, and truthe are still with thee,
and go before thy face.
thy present power O God:
For in the fauoure of thy sight,
they walke full safe abrode,
For in thy name, throughout the daye,
they ioy and muche reioyce:
And through thy rightousnes haue they,
a pleasaunt fame and noyse.
in thee alone doth lye:
Thy goodnes eke that hath vs stayed,
shall lyfte our horne on hye.
Our strength, that doth defend vs well,
the Lorde to vs doth brynge:
The holly one of Israell,
he is oure gide and kyng.
in visions thou didst show:
And thus then didst thou say to them,
thy mind to make them know.
A man of might haue I erect,
your king and gyde to be:
And set vp him whom I elect,
amonge the folke to me.
whom I haue searched oute:
And with my holy oyle anoynte,
him king of all the route.
For why my hand is redy still,
with him for to remayne
And with mine arme also I will,
him strengthen and sustayne
they shall him not deuoure:
Ne yet the sonnes of wickednes,
of him shall haue no power.
His foes likewyse will I destroy,
before his face in sighte:
and stryke them with my mighte.
shall still vpon him lye:
And in my name his horne eke shall
be lifted vp on hye.
His kingdome I will set to be,
vpon the sea and sand:
And eke the running flouds shall he,
embrace with his right hand.
on me and thus shall saye:
My father, and (my God thou arte)
my rocke of health and staye.
As one first borne I will him take,
of all on earth that sprynges:
His might, and honour, I shall make,
aboue all worldly kynges.
as I my sealfe haue toulde:
My faythfull couenaunt to fullfill,
my mercy I will houlde.
And eke his seede will I sustayne,
for euer strong and sure:
So that his seate shall still remayne,
whyle heauen doth endure.
and so begin to swerue:
And of my iudgements haue none awe,
nor will not them obserue.
my statutes to them made:
And set all my commaundments light,
and will not keepe my trade.
theyr doinges to amend:
And so with scourging for theyr sin,
when that they doo offend.
My mercy yet, and my goodnes,
I will not take him froe:
Nor handle him with craftines,
and so my truthe forgoe.
with all that I haue spoke:
No word the which my lippes haue told
shall alter or be broke.
Once swore I by myne holynes,
and that performe will I:
With Dauid I shall kepe promise,
to him I will not lye,
and eke his throne of might:
As doeth the sonne it shall remayne
for euer in my sight.
And as the mone within the skye,
for euer standeth fast:
A faythfull witnes from on hie,
so shall his kingdom laste.
and now thou chaungest chere,
thine owne anoynted dere.
Lorde thou hast quite vndone:
And downe vpon the ground also,
hast cast his royall crowne.
Thou pluckst his hedges vp with might
his walles doest thou confounde:
Thou beatest eke his bulworkes downe
and breakst them to the ground.
of commers by throughoute:
And so is made a mocke and scorne,
to all that dwell aboute.
Thou their right hand hast lifted vp,
that him so sore annoy:
And all his foes that him deuoure,
loe thou hast made to ioy.
that should his foes withstand:
To him in warre no victorye,
thou geuest nor vpperhand.
His glory thou dost also waste,
his throne, his ioy, and mirth:
By thee is ouerthrowne, add cast,
full low vpon the earthe.
his youth and lusty dayes:
And raysed of him an ill reporte,
with shame and great disprayse.
for euer wilt thou turne:
And shall thine anger still alwaye,
as fire consume and bourne.
O call to minde, remembre then,
my time consumeth fast:
Why hast thou the sonnes of men,
as thinges in vayne to wast.
and death shall neuer see?
Or from the hand of hell his soule,
shall he deliuer free?
Where is (O lord) thine oulde goodnes
so oft declared beforne?
Whiche by thy truth and vprightnes,
to Dauid thou hast sworne.
that on thy seruauntes lye:
The rayling of the people all,
borne in my brest haue I.
Wherwith O Lorde thyne enemies,
blasphemed haue thy name,
The steppes of thine anoynted one,
they cease not to defame.
bothe now and eke for aye:
Through skie, and earth in all the costes
Amen, amen, I saye.
Domine refugium.
Psal. lxxxx.
Moyses in his prayer setteth before vs the eternal fauour of God towardes his, who are nether admonished by the breuitie of theyr lyfe, nor by his plages to be thanckefull. Therfore Moyses prayeth God to tourne their hartes and continew his mercies towardes them and theyr posteritie for euer.
Our place of ease and rest:
In all times past, yea so longe sence,
as cannot be exprest.
Or there was made mountaine or hill,
the earth or worlde abrod:
From age to age and alwayse still,
for euer thou art God.
to dust or clay and then:
And then thou sayst agayne, returne,
againe ye sonnes of men.
The lastyng of a thousand yeare,
what is it in thy sighte:
As yester day it doth appere,
or as a watche one nighte.
then is their life and trade:
All as a slepe and like the grasse.
whose bewty soone doth fade.
Which in the morning, shines full bright,
but fadeth by and by:
And is cut downe, ere it be night,
all withered dead and drye.
our might is muche decayed:
we are full sore afrayed.
The wicked works ye we haue wrought,
thou setst before thine eye:
Our priuie faultes, yea eke our thought,
thy countenaunce doth espye.
therof doth nought remayne:
Our yeres consume as wordes or blast
and are not called agayne.
Our time is threscore yeare and ten,
that we doo liue on molde:
If one see fourescore, surely then,
we count him wonders oulde.
the whiche we counte vpon:
Is nothing els but painfull grief,
and we as blastes are gone.
Who once doth know, what strength is there
what might thine anger hath?
Or in his hart, who doeth the feare,
according to thy wrath?
how longe our dayes remayne:
That then we may our hartes apply,
true wisdom to attayne.
Retourn O Lord, how long wilt thou
fourth on in wrath procede:
Shew fauour to thy seruauntes now,
and healp them at their nede.
and then our ioie shalbe:
All times so long as lyfe doth last,
in harte reioyce shall we,
As thou hast plaged vs before,
nowe also make vs glad:
And for the yeres wherin full sore,
affliction we haue had.
and on thy seruauntes lyght:
And shew vnto their children dere,
thy glory and thy might.
Lord let thy grace and glory stand,
on vs thy seruauntes thus:
Confirme the workes we take in hand
Lorde prosper them to vs.
Qui habitat.
Psalme. lxxxxi.
Here is described in what assurance he lyueth that putteth his whole trust in God, and committeth him selfe whollye to his protection in all temptacyons. A promise of God to those that loue hym, know him and trust in him to deliuer them, and geue them immortall glory.
of God most hie doth dwell:
In shadodw of the mightiest grace,
at rest shall kepe him well.
Thou art my hope, and my strong hold
I to the Lorde will say:
My God on hye, in him will I,
my whole affiance stay.
the whiche the hunter layde:
wherof thou art afrayed.
And with his winges shall couer thee,
and keepe thee safely there:
His fayth and truth thy fence shalbe,
as sure as sheld and speare.
to feare, or be afflighte,
Of all the shafts that flye by daye,
nor terrours of the night.
Nor of the plage that priuilye,
doth walke in darke so fast:
Nor yet of that whiche doth destroye,
and at none dayes doth wast.
a thousand dead shalbe:
Ten thousand eke, at thy right hande,
and yet shalt thou be free.
But thou shalte see it for thy parte,
thyne eyse shall well regarde:
That euen lyk, to theyr desert,
the wicked haue reward.
to stay my hope on thee:
And in the hiest, I put my trust,
my sure defence is he.
Thou shalt not nede, none ill to feare,
with thee it shall not mell:
Nor yet the plage, shall once come nere,
thy house where thou dost dwell
with charge commaundeth hee:
That still in all thy wayes they shall,
preserue and prosper thee.
And in thy handes, shall the beare vp,
still wayting thee vpon:
So that thy foote shall neuer chaunce,
to spurne at any stone.
the adder fell and longe:
And treade vpon the Liones yong,
with dragons stoute and stronge.
For that he trusteth vnto me,
I will dispatch him quite:
And him defend, because that he,
dothe know my name a right.
an aunswer I will geue:
And from his grefe take him will I
in glory for to lyue.
With length of yeres, & dayes of welth,
I will fulfill his time:
The goodnes of my sauing health,
I will declare to him.
Bonum est confiteri.
Psalm. lxxxxii.
This Psalme was made to be soung on the sabaoth, to stir vp the people to acknowledge God and to prayse him in his workes: The Prophet reioyseth therin. But the wicked is not able to cōsidre, that the vngodlye, when he his most florishing, shall most spedely peryshe. In the end is discribed the felicitie of the iust, planted in the house of god to prayse the Lorde.
to praise the highest Lorde:
And to thine name O thou most hye,
to sing in one accorde.
To shew the kindnes of the Lorde,
betime ere day be light,
And eke declare his truth abrode,
when it doth draw to nyght.
on lute and harpe so swete:
With all the mirth you can inuent,
of instruments most meete,
For thou hast made me to reioyse,
in thinges so wrought by thee:
And I haue ioy, in harte and voyce,
thy handy workes to see.
are all thy workes so stoute:
So deeply are thy counsels set,
that none can try them out.
The man vnwise hath not the wit,
this geare to pas to bring:
And all such fooles are nothing fit,
to vnderstand this thyng.
as gras doo spring ful fast.
They when they florish in their ill,
for euer shalbe wast.
But thou art mighty Lord most hye,
yea thou dost raygne therfore:
In euery time eternally,
both now & euermore.
beholde thy foes I say:
How all that worke iniquitie,
shall perish and decay.
But thou like as an Unicorne,
shall lift my horne on hie:
With freshe and new prepard oyle,
thine ointed king am I.
shall see the fall and shame:
Of all that vp against me rise,
myne eare shall heare the same.
The iust shall florish vp on hie,
as date trees bud and blowe?
And as the ceders multiplye,
in Lybanus that growe.
and dwelling of our God:
Within his courtes they spring apace,
and florish all abrode.
And in their age more frute shall bryng
bothe fat and well besene:
And pleasauntly both bud and spryng,
with boughes and braunches grene.
and vpright is his will:
He is my rocke, my hope, and trust,
in him there is none ill.
Dominus regnauit.
Psalm. lxxxxiii.
He prayseth the power of God in the creation of the world & beateth downe all people whiche lifte them vp against his maiestye, and prouoketh to consider his promises.
in glory goodly dighte:
And he to shew his strength & mayne,
hath girt him self with might.
The Lord likewise the earth hath made
and shaped it so sure:
No might can make it moue or sad.
at stay it doeth endure.
thy seate was set before:
Beyond all time that can be thought,
thou hast ben euermore.
The flouds O Lord the floudes do rise,
they rore and make a noyse:
The flouddes I say did enterpryse,
and lyfted vp theyr voyce.
though seas do rage and swell:
The Lord is strong and more of might,
for he on hye doth dwell.
And loke what promise he doth make,
his houshoulde to defend:
For iust and true they shall it take,
all times withouten ende.
Deus vltionum.
Psalm. lxxxxiiii.
He praieth vnto God against the violence & arrogancie of tyrannies. Then doth he comfort the afflicted by the good issue of their affectyons, as he felte in him selfe, and did see in others, and by the ruins of the wicked, whom the Lorde will destroye.
that office longes to thee:
Sith vengaunce doth to thee belonge,
declare that all may see.
the earth dost iudge and gide
Reward the proud and men of might,
according to theyr pride.
How long shal wicked men beare sway
with lifting vp theyr voyce?
How long shall wicked men I say,
thus trihumph and reioyce?
and proudly prate theyr fill?
Shall they reioyce whiche be so stoute,
whose works are euer ill?
Thy flocke (O Lorde) thine heritage,
they spoyle and vex full sore:
Against thy people they doo rage,
still dayly more and more.
and straungers they destroy
They slea the children fatherles,
and none doth put them by.
And when they take these things in hād
this talke they haue of thee
Can Iacobs God this understand,
tush no he can not see.
some knowledg now discearne
Ye fooles amonge the multitude,
at length begin to learn.
The lord which made the eare of man
he needes of right must heare:
He made the eyne, all things must then,
before his sight appeare.
and make men vnderstand:
shall he not then your deedes detect,
how can ye scape his hand?
his hart he setteth full playne:
The lord I say mens thoughts doth frame,
and findeth them but vayne.
But Lorde that Man is happy sure,
whom thou doest kepe in awe:
And through correction doest procure,
to teache him in thy law.
in time of trouble sitte:
When wicked men shalbe supprest,
and fall into the pit.
For sure the Lorde will not refuse,
his people for to take:
His heritage whom he did chuse,
he will no time forsake.
to iustice to conuert:
That all may follow her with spede,
that are of vpright hart.
But who vpon my part shall stande,
against the cursed trayne?
Or who shall rid me from their hand,
that wicked workes maintayne.
mine enmies to repell:
almost as low as hell:
When I did saye my foote doth slide,
and now am lyke to fall:
Thy goodnes Lorde did so prouide,
to stay me vp with all.
and could no comfort finde:
Then Lorde thy goodnes did me touch
and that did ease my minde.
Wilt thou enhaunte thy selfe and draw
with wicked men to sit:
Which with pretence in stede of lawe,
muche mischief doo commit.
of righteous men and good.
And in theyr councells they are ryfe,
to sheade the giltles bloud.
But yet the Lorde he is to me,
a strong defence or locke:
He is my God to him I flee,
he is my strength and rock.
them sealues for to annoye:
And in their malice they shall fall,
our God shall them destroye.
Venite exultemus.
Psalme .lxxxxv.
An earnest exhortaciō to prayse god for the gouernment of the world and the election of his church. An admonishion not to folow the rebellion of the olde fathers, that tempted God in the wildernes: For the which they might not enter into the land of promise.
and synge vnto the Lorde,
in him our rock of health reioyce,
let vs with one accorde,
yea let vs come before his face,
to geue him thanks and prayse,
in singing Psalmes vnto his grace,
let vs be glad all wayes.
a greate and myghty God:
A kynge aboue all Gods throughout,
in all the worlde abrode.
and corners of the land:
The toppes of hilles that are so stepe,
he hath them in his hand.
for he the same hath wrought:
The earth and all that therin is,
his hande hath made of nought.
Come let vs bow and prayse the Lorde,
before him let vs fall:
And knele to him with one acorde,
the whiche hathe made vs all.
for vs he doth prouide?
We are his folke he doth vs fede,
his shepe, and he our guide.
To day if ye his voice will heare,
then harden not your hart:
As ye with grudging many a yeare,
prouoked me in deserte.
my power for to proue:
My wondrous works whē they did see,
yet still they woulde me moue.
Twise twenty yeare, they did me greue
and I to them did saye:
They erre in heart and not beleue,
they haue not knowne my waye.
was kindled in my brest:
to enter to my rest.
Cantate domino.
Psalme. lxxxxvi.
An exhortacyon bothe to the Iewes and gentiles to prayse God for hys mercye. And this specyallye ought to be referred to the kingdom of Chryste.
New songs of ioy and mirthe
Sing vnto him with one accorde,
all people on the yearthe.
Yea sing vnto the Lorde, I saye,
prayse ye his holy name
Declare and shew from day to daye,
saluation by the same.
hys honor round about
To shew his wonders doo not spare,
in all the worlde throughout.
For why the Lord is much of might,
and worthy prayse alway
And he is to be dred of ryght,
aboue all Gods I saye.
are idoles that will fade
But yet our God he is the Lord,
that hath the heauens made.
All prayse and honor eke doo dwell,
for aye before his face:
Both power and might likewise excell,
within his holly place.
ye people of the worlde:
All might and worship eke I say,
ascribe vnto the Lorde.
Ascribe vnto the Lorde also,
the glory of his name:
And eke into his courtes doo goe,
with giftes vnto the same.
with in his temple bright:
Let all the people of the worlde,
be fearefull at his sight.
Tell all the world be not agaste,
the Lorde doth raigne aboue:
Yea he hath set the yerth so fast,
that it did neuer moue.
that ruleth with princely might:
To iudge the nations euery one,
with equity and right.
The heauens shall great ioy begin,
the earth shall eke reioyce:
The sea with all that is theirin,
shall shoute and make a noice.
that spryngeth of the earth:
The wod and euery tree shall sing,
with gladnes and with mirth.
Before the presence of the Lorde,
and comming of his might:
and rule his folke with right.
Dominus regnauit.
Psalme. lxxxxvii.
The prophet exhorteth all to reioyce for the coming of the kingdome of Christ, dreadfull to the rebels and Idolaters, and ioyfull to the iust whom he exhorteth to innocency, to reioysing and thanks geuing,
may ioy with pleasaunt voyce:
And eke the yles with ioyfull mirth,
may triumphe and reioyce.
Bothe cloudes & darknes eke doo swell
and rounde aboute him beate:
Yea right and iustice euer dwell,
and byde aboute his seate.
and go before his face:
Which shall his foes and ennemies burn
abrode in euery place.
His lightnes eke, full bright did blase,
and to the world appere:
Wherat the yearthe did loke and gase,
with dreade and deadly feare.
and presence of the Lorde:
They fled before that rulers might,
which gideth all the worlde.
The heauens eke declare and shew,
his iustice forth abrode:
That all the world may see and knowe
the glory of our god.
as worship Idols vayne:
And eke to those that glory muche,
dome pictures to maintayne,
For all the Idouls of the worlde,
whiche they as Gods doo call:
Shall feele the power of the Lorde,
and downe to hym shall fall.
and Iuda shall reioyce:
For at thy iudgements they shall sing,
and make a pleasaunt noyce.
That thou O Lorde art set on hie,
in all the earth abrode:
And arte exalted wonderously,
aboue eche other God.
hate all thinges that is ill:
For he doth kepe the soules of his,
from suche as would them spill.
And light doth spring vp to the iust,
with pleasure for his part:
Greate ioye, with gladnes, mirth & lust
to them of vpright hart,
his hollines proclayme:
Be thankfull eke with hart and voyce,
and mindefull of the same.
Cantate domino.
Psal. lxxxxviii.
An Earnest exhortacyō to all cratures to prayse the Lorde for his power, mercy and fydelitie in his promyse by Christ by whō he hath communicated his saluation to all natiōes.
a new and pleasaunt songe:
For he hath wrought throughout the world
His wōders great & strong.
With his rigt hand full worthely,
he doth his foes deuoure:
And get him sealf the victory,
with his owne arme and power.
his sauing health and might:
The Lorde doth eke his iustice shew,
in all the Heathens sight.
His grace and truth to Israell,
in minde he doth recorde:
That al the yearth, hath sene right wel
the goodnes of the Lorde,
all people of the earth:
Geue thankes to God, sing and reioyce
to him with ioy and mirth.
Upon the harp vnto him sing,
geue thankes to him with psalmes.
Reioyce before the Lord our king,
with trumpets and with shalmes.
with ioy bothe rore and swell:
with all that therin dwell.
And let the flouddes reioyse theyr filles,
and clap theyr handes apace:
And eke the mountaynes and the hilles
before the Lorde his face.
the world and euery wighte:
And rule the people mightely,
with iustice and with right,
Dominus regnauit. psalme. lxxxxix
He cōmendeth the power, equitie, and excellency, of the kingdome of God by Chryst, ouer the Iew and Gentils, and prouoketh them to magnyfye the same & to serue the Lord, folowing the example of the auncyent fathers, Mosies, Aaron, Samuel, who calling vpon God wer harde in theyr prayers.
The people rage full fore:
Yea he on Cherubin doth sit,
though all the world woulde rore.
The Lorde that doth in Sion dwell,
is high and wonders great:
Aboue all folke he doth excell,
and he aloft is set.
for it is fearfull sure:
And let them magnifye the same,
that holy is and pure.
The princely power of our king,
doth loue iudgement and ryght:
Thou rightly rulest euery thing,
in Iacob through thy might.
all honour to him doo:
His fote stole worship ye likewise,
for he is holy too.
Moses, Aron, and Samuell,
as priestes on him did call:
When they did pray he herd them well
and gaue them aunswer all.
then did they labour still:
To keepe suche lawes as he did make,
and pointed them vntill.
O Lord, our god thou diddest them here
and aunswerst them againe:
Thy mercy did on them appere.
theyr deedes diddest not maintayne.
within this holy hill:
For why our God throughoute the world
is holy euer styll.
Iubilate deo omnis terra. 2.
Psalme. C.
He exhorteth all to serue the Lorde who hath made vs, end to enter into his courts and assemblies to prayse his name.
prayse him throughout the yearthe:
Serue him and come before his sight,
with singing and with mirth.
Know that the Lorde our God he is,
he did vs make and kepe:
Not we our sealues for we are his,
owne folke and pasture shepe.
geue thankes within the same:
within his courts set forth his prayse,
and laud his holy name.
For why the goodnes of the Lorde,
for euermore doth raygne:
From age to age throughout the world
his truthe doth still remayne.
Miserecordiam et iudicium.
Psalm. Ci.
Dauid describeth what gouernment he will obserue in his house and kingdome. He will punish and correct by roting out the wicked, and cheryshing the godly persones.
O Lorde God vnto thee:
And wisely doo in perfect way.
vntill thou come to me.
And in the middest of my house walke,
in purenes of my sprite:
And I no kind of wicked thing,
will set before my sight.
it shall not cleaue to me,
From me shall part the froward hart:
none euell will I see.
Him will I stroy that sclaundereth,
his neyghbour priuely:
The lofty hart I can not beare,
nor him that loketh hie.
the land that faithfull be:
be seruant vnto me:
I will no guilefull person haue,
within my house to dwell:
And in my presence he shal not,
remaine that lies doth tell:
the wicked of the lande:
That I may from Gods citie cut,
the wicked workers band.
Domine exaudi orationem.
Psalm. C.ii.
It semeth that this prayer was apointed to the faithful to pray in the captiuitie of Babilon. A consolation for the buyldyng of the churche: wherof foloweth the prayse of god to be published vnto al posterities: The conuersion of the Gentels: And the stabilytie of the churche.
[The first parte.]
my crye come vnto thee:
In tyme of troble doo not hide,
thy face away from me.
Inclyne thyne eares to me, make haste,
to heare me when I call:
For as the smoke doth fade, so doo
my dayes consume and fall.
my hart is smitten dead,
And withers as the grasse, that I
forget to eate my bread.
By reason of my groning voyce,
my bones cleaue to my skinne:
suche case now am I in.
loe I am suche a one:
I watch, and as a sparow on
the house top am alone.
Loe dayly in reprochefull wise,
mine enmies doo me scorne.
And they that doo against me rage,
against me they haue sworne.
my hunger I haue filld,
And mingled haue my drink with teares
that fro mine eyes haue stild,
Because of thy displeasure, Lord,
thy wrath and thy disdayne:
For thou hast lifted me aloft,
and cast me downe agayne.
are like the fleting shade:
And I am withered like the gras,
that sone away doth fade.
But thou, O Lord, for euer doest
remaine in stedy place,
And thy remembrance euer doth
abide from race to race.
The second parte.
to Sion wilt extend:
The time of mercy, now the time
foreset is come to end.
thy seruants do delighte,
And on the dust therof they haue,
compassion in theyr sprite.
the Lordes most holy name:
And all the kinges on earth shall drede
thy glory and thy fame:
Then when the Lord the mighty God,
againe shall Syon rere,
And then when he most nobly in,
his glory shall appeare:
when he himself shall bend:
When he shall not disdayne vnto,
theyr prayer to attend.
This shalbe written for the age,
that after shall succede:
the people yet vncreated.
the Lordes renome shall sprede.
hath loked downe belowe,
and out of Heauen hath the Lord,
beheld the earth also:
That of the mourning captiue he,
might heare the woefull crye,
And that he might deliuer those,
that damned are to dye:
the Lordes most holy name,
the prayses of the same:
Then when the people of the land,
and kingdomes with accorde,
Shalbe assembled for to do:
theyr seruice to the Lorde.
The third parte.
abated in the way,
And shorter he did cut my dayes:
thus I therfore did say:
My God, in middes of all my dayes,
now take me not away:
Thy yeres endure eternally
from age to age for ay.
before all time hast layde,
And Lorde the heauens are the work,
which thine owne hands haue made.
Yea they shall perish and decay,
but thou shalt tary still:
And they shall all in tyme waxe olde,
euen as a garment will.
and changed shall they be:
But thou doest still abide the same,
thy yeares doo neuer flee.
The children of thy seruantes shall,
continually endure,
And in thy sight their happy sede
for euer shall stand sure.
Benedic anima mea. 1.
Psalm. Ciii.
This is a Psalme most excellent, wherin the Prophet doth prouoke men and angels, and all creatures to prayse the Lorde for his fatherly mercyes, and deliuerance of his people from all euils for his prouidence ouer all thinges and the preseruation of the faithfull.
[The first parte.]
my sprite shall doo the same:
and all the secrets of my hart
praise ye his holy name,
Geue thanks to god for all his gifts,
shew not thy self vnkind
& suffer not his benefites
to slip out of thy mind.
and thee restored agayne:
For all thy weake and frayle disease,
and healde thee of thy payne,
from whiche thou couldest not flee:
His mercy and compassion bothe,
he did extend to thee.
and did prolong thy youth:
Like as the Egle casteth her bill,
wherby her age renueth.
The Lorde with iustice doth repaye,
all suche as be opprest:
So that their suffrings & their wrongs,
are turned to the best.
to Moyses he did shew:
His counsels and his valiant actes,
the Israelites did know.
The Lorde is kinde and mercyfull,
when sinners doo him greue:
The slowest to conceyue a wrath,
and rediest to forgeue.
though we be full of stryfe:
Nor kepeth our faultes in memory,
for all our sinfull lyfe.
Nor yet according to our sinnes,
the Lorde doth vs regarde,
Nor after our iniquities,
he doth not vs rewarde.
The second part.
vnto their children beare:
Like pitie beareth the Lorde to suche,
as worship him in feare.
The lord ye made vs knoweth our shape,
our mould and fashion iust:
Howe weake and frayle our nature is,
and how we be but dust.
is lyke the withering hay:
Or like the floure right fayre in field,
that fadth full sone away.
Whose glosse & beautie stormy windes,
doo vtterly disgrace:
And make that after theyr assaults,
suche blossomes haue no place.
with his shall euer stand:
Theyr childrens children do receyue,
his righteousnes at hand.
I meane which kepe his couenant,
with all theyr whole desire.
And not forget to doo the thing,
that he doth them require.
and fotestole of the Lorde:
And by his power imperiall,
he gouerneth all the world.
Ye angels whiche are great in power,
prayse ye and bles the Lorde:
Which to obey and doo his wyll,
immediatly accorde.
Benedic anima mea.
Psalm. Ciiii.
An excellent psalme to prayse God for the creation of the worlde, and the gouernance of the same by his maruelous prouidence: where in the Prophet prayeth againste the wicked, who are occasions that God diminisheth his blessings.
[The first parte.]
speake good of his name.
O lord our great god,
how dost thou appeare,
that great is thy fame:
honour and maiestie
in thee shine most cleare.
with light as a robe,
thou hast thee be clad
wherby all the earth
thy greatnes may see,
the heauens in such sort
thou also hast spread,
that it to a curtaine
compared may be.
in the cloudes full sure,
Which as his charet,
are made him to beare:
his course doth indure,
Upon the winges riding
of winde in the ayre.
He maketh his sprites:
as herauldes to go:
And lightnings to serue
we see also prest:
His will to accomplish
they runne to and fro,
To saue, or consume thinges,
as semeth him best.
so firmely and fast,
That it once to moue
none haue shall suche power
The depe afaire couering
for it made thou hast,
Which by his owne nature
the hilles wolde deuoure,
But at thy rebuke
the waters doo flee,
And so geue due place,
thy worde to obaye:
At thy voyce of thunder
so fearfull they be,
That in theyr great raging,
they hast sone away.
they then vp ascend:
If thou doo but speake,
moste quickely descend,
Where thou them appointest,
remayne they doo still.)
Their bondes hast thou set
how farre they shall runne,
So as in their rage
not that pas they can:
For God hathe appointed,
they shall not returne
The earth to destroy more,
whiche made was for man.
to strong streames or lakes,
Which runne doo full swyft
amonge the huge hilles,
Where both the wilde asses,
their thirst oft times slakes,
And beastes of the mountaynes
therof drink their filles,
By these pleasant springs
or fountaynes full fayre.
The soules of the ayre
abide shall and dwell:
Who moued by nature
to hoppe here and there,
Among the grene branches
their songs shall excell,
the cloudes he doth vse:
The earth with his workes
are wholy repleat:
he dooeth not refuse,
But grasse doth prouyde them,
and herbe for mans meate.
Yea breade, wine and oyle,
he made for mans sake,
His face to refresh,
and hart to make strong,
The ceders of Liban
this greate Lorde dyd make,
Whiche trees he doeth nourish,
that grow vp so long.
and make there theyr nest:
In firre trees the storckes
remayne and abyde:
The hie hilles are succours,
for wilde goates to rest,
And eke the rocks stonye
for conyes to hyde.
The moone then is set
her seasons to runne,
The dayes from the nightes
therby to discearne:
And by thee descending
also of the sunne,
The colde from heate alway
therby we do learne.
by Gods will and power,
Then crepe forth doo all
the beastes of the wood:
their pray to deuoure.
But yet it is thou Lord,
which giuest them foode.
Assone as the sunne
is vp they retyre.
To couche in theyr dennes
then are they full fayne,
That man doo his worke may:
as right doth require:
Till night come and call him,
to take rest agayne.
The thirde parte.
are all thy workes founde.
With wisdom full great,
they are in dede wrought:
So that the whole worlde
of thy prayse doth sounde,
And as for thy ryches,
they passe all mens thought:
So is the great sea,
which large is and broade,
Where thinges that crepe, swarme,
and beastes of eche sorte:
There both mightie shippes saile,
and some lye at roade:
The whale huge and monstrous
there also doth sporte.
thou doest them relieue,
And thou in due tyme
full well doest them fede.
the same so to geue,
They gather full gladly
those thinges which they nede,
Thou openest thyne hand,
and they finde suche grace,
That they with good thinges
are filled we see:
But sore are they troubled,
if thou turne thy face.
For if thou their breath take,
vile dust then they be.
from thee doth procede,
All things to appoint,
and what shall insue,
Then are they created,
as thou hast decreed,
And doest by thy goodnes
the drye earth renew.
The prayse of the Lorde,
for euer shall last,
Who may in his workes,
by right well reioyce.
His loke can the earth make,
to tremble full fast,
And likewise the mountains
to smoke at his voyce.
sing will I alwayes:
So longe as I liue,
my God prayse wyll I
my wordes shall him please:
I will reioyce in him,
to him will I cry.
The sinners, O Lorde,
consume in thine ire,
And eke the peruerse
them roote out with shame:
But as for my soule, now
let it still desire.
And say with the faithful,
prayse ye the Lordes Name.
Confitemini domino.
Psalm. Cv.
He prayseth the singuler goodnes of God who hathe of all the people of the worlde chosen a peculier people to him selfe, and hauyng chosen them, neuer ceaseth to doo them good, euen for his promes sake.
[The first parte.]
and call vpon his name:
Among the people eke declare,
his workes, to spred his fame.
Sing ye vnto the Lorde, I say,
and sing vnto him prayse,
And talke of all the wondrous workes,
that he hath wrought alwayes.
reioyse with one accorde,
And let the hart also reioyse
of them that seke the Lorde.
Seke ye the Lord, and seke the strength
of his eternall might,
And presence of his sight.
kepe still in mindfull hart,
Ne let the iugements of his mouth,
out of your minde depart,
Ye that of faithfull Abraham,
his seruant are the sede,
Ye his elect, the children that
of Iacob doo procede:
the myghty Lord our God,
And his most rightfull iugements are
through all the earth abrode.
His promise and his couenant,
whiche he hath made to his
He hath remembred euermore,
to thousandes of degrees.
The .ii. parte.
with Abraham long agoe,
And faithfull othe which he hath sworne
to Isaac also,
And did confirme the same for law,
that Iacob should obey:
And for eternall couenant
to Israell for ay,
all Canaan land will geue,
The lot of your inheritance
wherin your sede shall lyue,
did very small appeare,
Yea very small, and in the land
they then but strangers were.
without a sure abode,
And while fro sondry kingdomes they
did wander all abrode,
And wrong at none oppressers hand,
he suffred them to take,
But euen the great and mighty kinges,
reproued for their sake.
that mine anoynted be,
Ne doo the prophets any harme,
that doo pertayne to me.
He calld a dearth vpon the land,
of death he stroyed the store:
But he against their time of nede,
had sent a man before.
The third parte.
to liue a slaue in woe:
Whose feete they hurt in stocks, whose soule,
the iron pearst also.
Untill the tyme came when his cause,
was knowne apparantly,
The mighty word of God the Lord,
his faultles truth did trye.
from prison where he was:
did freely let hym pas:
And ouer all hys house he made,
him Lorde to beare the swey,
and of his substance made him haue,
the rule and all the stay,
the princes of his land,
And wisdomes lore his auncyent men,
might teache to vnderstand.
Then into the Egiptian land,
came Israell also:
And Iacob in the land of Ham,
did liue a straunger thoo.
in number made to flowe:
And ouer all their enemies,
in strength he made them growe.
Whose hart he turnd, that they with hate
his people did entreate:
And did his seruantes wrongfully,
Abuse with false deceite.
and Aaron whom he chose,
He did commaund to goe to them,
his message to disclose.
The wondrous message of his signes,
among them they did shewe:
And wonders in the land of Ham,
then did they worke also.
in dede of brighter day,
And vnto his commission
they did not disobey.
He turnd theyr waters into bloud,
he did their fishes slay:
Their land brought frogs, euē in ye place
where their king Pharao lay.
great swarmes of noysome flyes,
And all the quarters of theyr land,
were filld with crauling lyse.
He gaue them colde and stony hayle,
in stede of milder rayne:
And firy flames within theyr land,
he sent vnto theyr payne.
wheron their figges did growe,
And all the trees within their coastes,
downe did he ouerthrowe,
He spake: then caterpillers did,
and greshoppers abound,
Which eate the grasse in all their land
and frute of all their ground.
The .v. parte.
eke deadly did he smite,
Yea the beginning and first frute,
of all theyr strength and might,
With gold and siluer he them brought,
from Egipt land to passe,
no feble one there was.
when they did thense depart:
For terrour and the feare of them,
was fallen vpon theyr hart.
To shroude them frō the parching heat
a cloude he did display:
And fire he sent to geue them lyght,
when night had hid the day.
to rayne at their request,
And fully with the bread of heauen,
their hunger he represt.
He opend then the stony rock,
and waters gushed out,
And in the drye and parched groundes
lyke riuers ranne about.
ay myndefull was he thoe:
Which to his seruant Abraham,
he plighted long agoe.
He brought his people forth with mirth
and his elect with ioy:
Out of the cruell land where they,
had lyued in great anoye.
to them the frutefull landes,
The labors of the people eke
they toke into theyr hands.
obserue for euermore
And faithfully obey his lawes,
prayse ye the Lorde therfore.
Confitemine domino.
Psal. Cvi.
The people dispersed vnder Antiochus doo magnifie the goodnes of God emonge the iust and repentant: Desiring to be brought agayne into the lande by Gods mercyfull vysytacion. And after the manifold meruayles of God wrought in their deliueraunce forth of Egipt and the great ingratitude of the people rehearsed, they doo praye and dedesier to be gathered from among the Heathē to the entent they may prayse the name of the God of Israell.
[The first parte.]
his mercye dures for ay:
Who can expresse his noble actes,
or all his prayse display.
They blessed are that iugment kepe,
and iustly doo alwaye:
With fauour of thy people, Lorde,
remember me I pray,
vouchesafe to visite me:
That I the great felicytie,
of thine elect may see.
And with thy peoples ioy I may,
a ioyfull minde posses:
And may with thine inheritance,
a glorying hart expres.
haue sinned euery one:
We haue committed wickednes,
and leudly we haue done,
hast done in Egipt land:
Our fathers, though they saw them al,
yet did not vnderstand.
did kepe in thankfull mind?
But at the sea yea the red sea,
rebelled most vnkind.
Neuertheles he saued them,
for honor of hys name,
That he might make his power knowne
and spred abrode with fame.
and forthwith it was dryed:
And as in wildernes, so through,
the depe he did them guide
He saued them from the cruel hand,
of their despitefull foe
And from the enmies hand he did,
deliuer them also.
The second parte.
not one was left alyue,
Then they beleued his wordes, & praise
in song they did him geue.
But by and by vnthankefully,
his workes they cleane forgat:
And for his counsell and his will,
they did neglect to wayte.
with fond and gredy lust,
the stay of all theyr trust,
And then theyr wanton mindes desire
he suffred them to haue,
but wasting leannes therwithall
into their soule he gaue,
at Moses they did grutch,
Aaron the holy of the Lorde,
so did they enuie muche.
Therfore the earth did open wide,
and Dathan did deuoure:
And all Abrams companye,
did couer in that houre.
the whote consuming fyre,
And wasting flame did then burne vp,
the wicked in his ire.
Upon the hill of Horeb they
an idole calf did frame,
And there the molten image they
did worship of the same.
that fedeth on the grasse:
Thus they their glory turnd and all,
their honor did deface.
And God their only sauiour,
vnkindly they forgot,
Which many great and mighty things
in Egip land hadt wrought,
The third parte.
most wondrous works had done
And by the red sea dredfull things
performed long agone.
Therfore for their so shewing them,
forgetfull and vnkind,
To bring destruction on them all
he purposde in his minde.
before them in the breake:
To turne his wrath, lest he on them,
with slaughter should him wreke.
They did despise the pleasant land,
that he beheght to geue:
Yea and the workes that he had spoke,
they did no whit beleue:
they wickedly repined,
Nor to the voyce of God the Lorde,
they gaue a harkning mynde,
Therfore against them lifted he,
his strong reuenging hand,
Them to destroy in wildernes,
ere they should see the land.
the nations with his rod,
And through the contrees of the world
to scatter them abrode.
To Baal Peor then they did,
adioyne themselues also,
so they forsoke him tho.
his wrath they did prouoke,
And in his so inkindled wrath,
the plage vpon them broke.
But Phineas stoode vp with zeale,
the sinners vile to slay,
And iudgement he did execute,
and then the plage did stay,
The .iiii. parte.
for righteousnes that day,
And from thenceforth so compted is
from race to race for aye.
At waters eke of Meribah,
they did him angry make,
Yea so far fourth that Moses was
then punisht for theyr sake,
that in impatient heate
His lippes spake vnaduisedly,
his feruor was so greate.
Nor as the Lorde commaunded them,
they slew the people thoe,
But were among the heathen mixt,
and learnde their workes also,
their ruine and decay,
To feends their sonnes & daughters they
did offer vp and slay.
the giltles bloud they spilt,
Yea theyr owne sons & daughters bloud
without all cause of gilt,
offerd with wicked hand,
And so with blood of innocents,
defyled was the land.
Thus wer they stayned with the works
of their owne filthy way,
And with their owne inuentions,
a whoring did they stray.
the Lordes wrath kindled sore,
And euen his owne inheritance
therfore he did abhorre.
Into the handes of heathen men,
he gaue them for a prey:
And made theyr foes the lords whō they
were forced to obey.
The .v. parte.
opprest them in the land:
And they were humbly made to stoope
as subiectes to theyr hand.
Full oftentimes from thrall had he,
deliuerd them before,
But with their counsels they to wrath
prouoked him euermore.
were brought full low to lye.
he harkned to theyr crye.
He calld to mind his couenant,
which he to them had swore.
And by his mercies multitude,
repented him therfore.
before the sight of those:
That led them captiue from their land,
when erst they were their foes.
Saue vs, O Lorde that art our God,
saue vs O Lord we pray,
And from among the Heathen folke,
Lorde, gather vs away.
of thy most holy name,
That we may glory in thy prayse
and sounding of thy fame.
The Lorde the God of Israell,
be blest for euermore.
Let all the people say Amen.
prayse ye the Lord therfore.
Confitemini domino.
Psalme. Cvii.
The Prophet exhorteth all those that are redemed by the Lord and gathered vnto hym, to geue thankes for this mercyfull prouidence of God, gouerning all thynges at his good pleasure, sending good and euill, prosperitie and aduersitie, to bryng men vnto him. Therfore as the righteous thereat reioyce, so shall the wicked haue their mouthes stopped.
[The first parte.]
for gratious is he:
And that his mercy hath none ende,
Suche as the Lorde redemed hathe,
with thanks should prayse his name
And shew how they from foes wer fred,
and yow he wrought the same,
that lay so farre about:
From East to west, from north to south
his hand did finde them out.
They wandred in the wildernes,
and strayed from the way,
And founde no citie where to dwell,
that serue might for theyr stay.
in these desertes so voyde:
That faintnes did them sore assalt,
and eke their soules anoyde.
Then did they crye in their distres,
vnto the Lorde for ayde,
Who did remoue their troublous state,
according as they prayde.
he led them like a guide:
That they might to a citie go,
and there also abide,
Let men therfore before the Lorde,
confes his goodnes then:
And shew the wonders, that he doth,
before the sonnes of men.
The second parte.
they sought so to rebell.
Esteming light his counsels high,
which doo so farre excell.
But when he humbled them full lowe,
they then fell downe with grief,
And none was found, so muche to helpe
wherby to get relief.
vnto the Lorde for ayde:
Who did remoue their troublous state,
according as they prayde.
For he from darknes out them brought
and from deaths dredfull shade,
Bursting with force the yron bandes,
which did before them lade.
confes his kindnes then:
And shew the wonders that he doth,
before the sonnes of men.
For he threw downe their gates of bras
and brake them with strong hand
The yron barres he smote in two:
nothing could him withstand.
and cannot from them wend:
But hepe on mo to those they haue,
because they doo offend.
Their soule so much did lothe all meat
that none they coulde abyde:
Wherby death had them almost caught,
as they full truly tryde.
The thyrde parte.
confes his kindnes then,
And shew the wonders that he doeth,
before the sonnes of men.
And let them offer sacrifice,
with thankes and also feare,
And speake of all his wondrous works
with glad and ioyfull cheare.
into the seas descend,
Their marchandise through fearful flods
to compas and to ende.
Those men are forced to beholde,
the Lordes workes, what they be:
most maruellous they see.
ariseth in a rage:
And stirreth vp the surges so,
as nought can them asswage.
Then are they lifted vp so hygh.
the clouds they seme to gayne:
And plunging downe the depth vntill,
theyr soules consume with payne.
now here now there they reele:
As men with feare of wit bereft,
or had of sense no feele.
Then did they cry in theyr distresse,
vnto the Lorde for ayde:
Who did remoue their troublous state
according as they prayde.
The forth parte.
confes his kindenes then:
And shew the wonders that he doth
before the sonnes of men,
with prayse extoll his name:
And where the elders doo conuent,
let them there doo the same.
he doeth oft change and turne:
And dryeth vp, as it were dust,
the springing well and burne.
A frutefull land with pleasures deckt,
full barren doeth he make.
When on their sinnes, which dwell therin
he doeth iust vengeance take.
he maketh frute to beare:
With pleasant springs of water cleare
though none before were there.
Wherin suche hungrye soules are set,
as he doeth freely chuse,
That they a citie may them buylde
to dwell in for theyr vse.
and vineyardes also plant:
To yelde them frutes of suche increase,
as none may seme to want.
They multiplye exceadingly:
the Lord doeth bles them so:
Who doeth also their brut beastes make
by numbers great to growe.
by the oppressors stoute:
that compas them about,
Then doeth he princes bring to shame,
which did them so oppres,
And likewise caused them to erre,
within the wildernes.
out of his troubles depe:
And oft times doeth his trayne augmēt
muche like a flocke of shepe.
The righteous shall beholde this sight,
and also muche reioyce:
Whereas the wicked and peruerse,
with grief shall stop theyr voyce.
Paratum cor meum.
Psalme. Cviii.
This psalme is composed of two other psalmes before, the seuen and fyftye and the sixtie. The matter here conteyned is, That Dauid geueth him selfe with harte and voyce to prayse the Lorde, and assureth him selfe of the promes of God concerning his kingdome ouer Ifraell, and his power against other nations, who though he seme for to forsake vs for a time, yet he alone in the ende will caste downe our enemies.
and eke my tong is so.
I will aduaunce my voyce in song,
and geuyng prayse also.
Awake my viole and my harp,
swete melody to make.
right early will awake.
still praysed shalt thou be,
And I among the Heathen folke,
will sing, O Lorde, to thee.
Because thy mercie, Lorde is great,
aboue the heauens hie,
And eke thy truth doth reche the clouds
within the lofty skye.
exalt thy selfe, O God,
And Lorde display vpon the earth.
thy glory all abrode.
That thy derely beloued may,
be set at libertie.
Helpe, O my God, with thy righte hand,
and harken vnto me.
wherfore my ioyes abound,
Sychem I shall diuide, and mete,
the vale of Sucoth ground:
And Gilead shall be myne owne,
Manasses mine shall be,
My hed strength Ephraim, and Law
shall Iuda geue for me:
on Edom will I throwe,
Upon the land of Palestine,
in triumph will I goo,
be guide to conduict me,
Or who by whom to Edom land,
conueyed shall I be?
hadst vs forsaken quyte:
And thou O Lorde which with our host
didst not goe fourth to fyght?
Geue vs, O Lorde, thy sauing ayde,
when trouble doth assayle:
For all the helpe of man is vayne.
and can no whit auayle.
and worthy of renowne:
He shall subdue our enemies,
ye he shall treade them downe.
Deus laudem meam.
Psalme. Cix.
Dauid being falslye accused by flatterers vnto Sawl, prayeth God to helpe him and to destroye his enemyes. And vnder them he speaketh of Iudas the traitour vnto Iesus Christ, and of all the like enemyes of the children of God: And desireth so to be deliuered, that his enemies may know the work of God, Then doth he promise to geue prayses vnto God.
O God thy tong alwayes,
O God, euen thou I say that art.
the God of all my prayse.
The wicked mouth and gilefull mouth,
on me disclosed be,
And they with false and lying tong,
haue spoken vnto me.
as doth declynyng shade:
And as the grashopper, so I
am shaken of and fade.
With fastyng longe from nedefull fode,
enfebled are my knees:
And all her fatnes hath my flesh,
enforced ben to lese.
to them was made to be.
And they that did vpon me loke:
did shake theyr heds at me.
But thou, O Lorde that art my God,
myne ayde and succour be:
Accordyng to thy merycy, Lorde,
saue and delyuer me.
(Lord) is thy myghty hand:
And that thou thou hast done it, Lorde,
so shall they vnderstande.
Although they curse with spite, yet thou
shalt bles with louyng voyce:
They shall aryse and come to shame,
thy seruant shall reioyse.
that enmies are to me
And with confusyon as a cloke,
eke couerd let them be.
geue thankes vnto the Lorde,
And I among the multitude
hys prayses will recorde.
will stande the pooreman by,
To saue hym from the men that wold
condemne his soule to dye.
Dixit dominus domino.
Psalm. Cx.
Dauid prophecyeth of the power and euerlastyng kyngdome geuen to Chryste and of hys Pristhod whyche shoulde put an ende to the Pristode of Leuy.
Sit thou at my right hande.
Till I haue made thy foes a stoule,
wheron thy fete shall stande.
The Lorde shall out of Syon send,
the scepture of thy myght:
Amidde thy mortall foes be thou,
the ruler in theyr syght.
and power they shall see:
thy people offer thee.
Yea with a holy worshiping,
then shall they offer all:
Thy birthes dew is the dew that doth,
from wombe of morning fall.
repent what he doth say,
By thorder of Melchisedech
thou art a priest for ay.
The Lord thy God on thy right hand,
that standeth for thy stay
Shal wound for thee the stately kings
vpon his wrathfull day.
the place with bodies dead,
And ouer diuerse contreyes shall
in sonder smite the head.
And he shall drink out of the broke,
that runneth in the way:
Therfore he shall lift vp on hye,
his ryall hed that day.
Confitebor tibi domine.
Psalm. Cxi.
He geueth thanks to the Lord for his mercifull works towards his church, & declareth wherin true wisdom & right knowledg cōsisteth.
To praise & laud the Lord
In presence of the iuste:
For great his workes are founde.
as doo hym loue and trust,
Hys workes are glorious:
Also his rightousnes
It doeth indure for euer,
His wondrous works he wolde
we still remembre shoulde,
his mercye fayleth neuer.
a porcion full faire.
He hath vp for them laid:
He will them haue in minde,
and kepe them, as he sayd.
For he did not disdayne,
his workes to shew them playne,
By lightnings and by thunders,
when he the Heathens land,
Did geue into their hand,
bothe iudgement, right and truth,
Wherto his statutes tend:
they are decreed sure.
For euer to endure,
whiche equitie doth end:
Redemption he gaue,
his people for to saue,
And hath also required,
his promes not to fayle,
But alwayes to preuayle.
his holy name be feared.
true wisdom wolde attayne,
The Lorde feare and obey.
suche as his Lawes doo kepe,
Shall knowledge haue full depe,
his prayse shall last for aye.
Beatus vir.
Psalme. Cxii.
He prayseth the felicitie of them that feare God, and condemneth the cursed state of the conteinners of God.
And that his lawes doth loue in dede:
His sede on earth God will vpreare.
And bles such as from him procede:
His house with good he will fulfill:
His rightousnes endure shall still.
In trouble ioy, in darkenes light:
Compassion in his eyes,
and mercy alwayes in hys syght:
Yea, pitie moueth suche to lend:
he doeth by iudgement things expend.
for in remembrance had is he;
who in the Lorde sure hope doeth se.
His hart is firme, hys feare is past:
for he shall se his foes downe cast.
his rightousnes shall still remayne,
And his estate with prayse abyde,
though that the wicked man disdaine
Yea, gnash his teeth thereat shall he,
and so consume his state to see.
Laudate pueri.
Psalme Cxiii.
An exhortation to prayse the Lorde for his prouidence, in that, that contrarye to the course of nature he worketh in hys Churche.
prayse ye his name with one accord,
yea, blessed be alwayes his name:
who from the rising of the sunne,
til it returne where it begonne,
The Lord all peoples doth surmount:
As for his glory we may counte,
aboue the heauens hygh to be.
With God the Lorde who may compare,
whose dwellyngs in the heauens are?
of such great power and force is he.
thinges to beholde bothe here belowe,
And also in heauen aboue,
And eke the poore, whiche helpe none saw,
His onlye mercy did him moue:
And so him set in high degre,
with princes of great dignitie,
That rule his people with great fame.
The barren he doth make to beare,
And with great ioye her frute to reare:
therfore prayse ye his holy name.
In exitu Israel.
C.xiiii.
Howe the Israelites were delyuered out of Egipt, and of the wonderfull miracles that God shewed at that tyme, whiche put vs in remembraunce of Goddes great mercyes towardes his children and of oure vnthankfullnes for the same.
from Pharos land was bent:
And Iacobs house the straungers left,
and in the same trayne went.
In Iuda god his glory shewde,
his holynes most bryght:
So did the Israelites declare,
his kingdom, power and myght,
as all amased did flee:
The roring streaimes of Iordans floud,
reculed backwardly.
As rammes afrayde, the mountaines skipt,
theyr strength did them forsake:
And as the sely tremblyng lambes,
theyr toppes did beate and shake,
so sodenly to flee?
Ye rowlyng waues of Iordans floud,
why ran ye backwardly?
Why shoke ye hils as Rammes afrayd,
why did your strength so shake:
Why did your tops as trembling lambs
for feare quiuer and quake.
and dread hys myghty hand:
Before the face of Iacobs God,
feare ye both sea and land.
I meane the God which frō hard rocks
doth cause many flouds appeare:
And from the stony flint doth make,
gush out the fountaynes cleare.
Non nobis domine.
Psalme. Cxv.
A prayer of the faythful, oppressed by idolatrous tirants, against whō they desire that God woulde succor them: for as muche as there is no comparyson betwene him and theyr false God, or Idoles, trustyng most constantly that God will preserue them in this theyr nede, seeyng that he hath adopted, and receaued them to hys fauoure: promising finally, that they will not be vnmindfull, of so greate a benefyte, if it would please God to heare theyr prayer, and delyuer them by his omnipotent power.
[The first parte.]
but to thy name geue prayse,
bothe for the mercy and the truthe.
that are in thee alwayes.
Why shall the Heathen scorners say,
where is theyr God become?
Our God in heauen is, and what,
he will, that hath he done.
worke of mens handes they be:
They haue a mouth and do not speake:
and eyes, and doo not see.
And they haue eares ioynd to their heds
and doo not heare at all:
And noses eke they formed haue,
and doo not smell withall.
and feete and doo not goo:
A throte they haue, yet through the same
they make no sounde to blowe.
Those that make them be like to them.
and those whose trust they be.
O Israell trust in the Lorde,
their help and shield is he.
their helpe and shield is he:
Trust ye the Lorde that feare the Lord
their help and sheld is he.
The Lord hath mindefull ben of vs,
and will vs bles also:
On Israels and Aarons house,
his blissing he will shew.
with wordes of hatefull spite:
Without all cause of my desert,
against me did they fight,
For my good will they were my foes,
but then gan I to pray:
with hate, they did repay,
The second parte.
to haue the vpper hand:
At his right hand eke suffer thou,
his hatefull foe to stand.
When he is iudged, let him then,
condemned be therin:
And let the prayer that he makes,
be turned into sinne.
let thou an other take,
His children let be fatherles,
his wyfe a wydow make:
Let his ofspring be vagabundes,
to begge and seke theyr bread,
Wandring out of the wasted place,
where erst they haue ben fed.
catch all his goods and store,
And let the straungers spoyle the frutes
of all his toyle before.
Let there be none to pitie him,
let there be none at all:
That on his children fatherles,
will let their mercye fall.
for euer be destroyed:
Their name out blotted in the age,
that after shall succed.
from Gods remembrance fall,
And let thou not his mothers sinne,
be done away at all.
let them remayne for ay,
That from the earth their memorye,
he may cut cleane away.
Sith mercye he forgat to shew,
but did pursue with spite:
The troubled man and sought to slay,
the woefull harted wight.
The third parte.
betide vnto him so:
And as he did not blessing loue,
it shalbe far him froe.
As he with cursing clad himself,
so it like water shall:
Into his bowels, and like oyle,
into his bones befall.
to couer him for ay,
And as a girdle wherwith he,
shall girded be alwaye.
Lo let this same be from the Lord,
the guerdon of my foe,
Yea and of those that euell speake,
against my soule also.
deale thou I say with me.
for good thy mercies be:
Because in depth of great distres,
I nedy am and pore,
And eke within my payned brest,
my hart is wounded sore.
the lorde will blesse them all:
Euen he will blesse them euery one,
the great and eke the small.
To you I say the louing Lord,
will multiplie his grace,
To you and to the children that,
shall follow of your race.
euen of the lorde I say,
Which both the heauen and the earth,
hath made and set in stay.
The heauens, yea the heauens hye,
belong vnto the Lord:
The earth vnto the sonnes of men,
he gaue of free accorde.
set fourth the Lordes renoume,
Nor any that into the place,
of silence doo goe downe.
But we will prayse the Lorde our god,
from hencefourth and for ay
Sound ye the prayses of the Lorde,
prayse ye the Lorde I say.
Dilexi quoniam.
Psalme. Cxvi.
Dauid being in great daunger of Saull in the desert of Mammon, perceiuing the great and inestimable loue of God toward him, mangnyfyeth suche great mercyes, and protesteth that he will be thankful for the same.
and prayer hearde hath he:
When in my dayes I cald on him,
he bowed his eare to me,
Euen when the snares of cruell death,
about beset me round:
When paynes of hell me caught, & when
I wo and sorow found.
then did I call, and say:
Deliuer thou my soule, O Lorde,
I doo thee humbly pray.
The Lorde is very mercyfull,
and iust he is also,
And in our God compassion,
doth plentifully flowe.
all those that simple be:
I was in wofull miserye,
and he releued me.
And now my soule, sith thou art safe,
returne vnto thy rest:
For largely loe the Lorde to thee,
his bountie hath exprest:
my soule from deadly thrall,
my slidyng fete from fall:
Before the Lorde I in the land,
of life will walke therfore.
I did beleue, therfore I spake,
for I was trobled sore.
that all men lyers bee:
What shall I pay the Lorde for all,
his benefites to me?
The holsome cup of sauing health,
I thankefully will take:
And on the Lordes name I will call,
when I my prayer make.
that I haue him behight,
Yea euen at this present time,
in all his peoples sight.
Right deare and precious in his sight,
the Lorde doth ay esteme:
The death of all his holy ones,
what euer men do deme.
I doo my selfe confes,
Son of thy handmayd thou hast broke
the bonds of my distres
And I will offer vp to thee,
a sacryfyce of prayse:
And I will call vpon the name,
of God the Lorde alwayes.
that I haue him behight,
Yea euen at this present tyme,
in all his peoples sight,
Yea in the courtes of Gods owne house
and in the middes of thee:
O thou Ierusalem I say.
wherfore the Lorde prayse ye.
Laudate dominum.
Psalme. Cxvii.
He exhorteth the Gentels to prayse God, because he hath accomplished as well to them as to the Iewes, the promys of lyfe euerlastyng by Iesus Chryst.
Prayse ye the Lorde alwayes:
And all ye people euery where,
set fourth hys noble prayse.
For great his kindnes is to vs,
his truthe endures for ay:
Wherfore prayse ye the Lorde our God,
prayse ye the Lorde I say:
Confitemini domino.
Psalme. Cxviii.
Dauid reiectid of Saule and of the people, at the tyme apoynted obtained the kingdome, for the whiche he biddeth all them that feare the Lord, to be thankefull and vnder hys person, in all thys was Christ lyuely set forthe, who should be of hys people reiected.
for gratious is he:
Because his mercy doth endure.
for euer towardes thee.
Let Israell confes and say,
hys mercy dures for ay:
Now let the house of Aaron say,
hys mercye dures for aye.
euen now confesse and say:
endureth still for aye.
In trouble and in heuines,
vnto the Lorde I cride:
Whiche louingly hard me at large,
my sute was not denyde.
I will not stande in dout:
Nor feare what man can doo to me,
when God standth me about.
The lord doth take my parte with them.
that helpe to succour me:
Therfore I shall see my desire,
apon myne enemye.
then in mans mortall sede:
Or to put confidence in kynges
or princes in our nede.
All nations haue in closed me,
and compassed me rounde:
But in the name of God shall I,
myne enemies confounde.
they kept me in I say:
But through the lords most mightie name,
I shall worke theyr decay.
They came about me all like bees,
but yet in the lordes name:
I quencht their thornes, that wer on fire
and will destroy the same.
that I in dede might fall:
that they wer vanquist all.
The lorde is my defence and strengthe
my ioy, my mirth and song:
He is become for me in dede,
a sauiour most strong.
doth bring to pas great thinges:
He causeth voyce of ioy and health,
in rightous mennes dwellynges,
The right hand of the lorde doth bring
most mighty thinges to pas:
his hand hath the preeminens,
his force is, as it was,
to vtter and declare:
The lord his might, & wondrous power
his workes and what they are.
The lorde himselfe hath chastened,
and hath corrected me:
But hath not geuen me ouer yet,
to death as ye may see.
of truth and righteousnes:
That I may enter into them,
the lordes prayse to confes.
This is the gate euen of the lorde,
whiche shall not so he shut:
But good and righteous men alway.
shall enter into it.
because thou hast heard me:
And art become most louingly,
a sauiour vnto me.
The stone whiche ere this time among
the builders was refused:
is now become the corner stone,
and chefely to be vsed.
this was the Lordes owne fact,
And it is maruelous to be holde,
with eyes that noble act.
This is the ioyfull day in dede,
which God himself hath wrought:
Let vs be glad and ioy therin,
in hart, in mind and thought.
we wishe with one accorde:
Blessed be he that comes to vs,
in the name of the Lorde.
God is the Lorde that sheweth vs lyght:
bynde ye therfore with corde:
Your sacrifice to the alter,
and geue thankes to the Lorde.
and render thankes to thee:
Thou art my God, and I will prayse,
thy mercy towardes me.
O geue ye thankes vnto the Lorde,
for gratious is he:
Because his mercy dothe endure,
for euer towardes thee.
Beati immaculati.
Psalm Cxix.
In thys psalme is contayned an exquisit art, and a wonderfull vehemencye in settyng forth the prayses of gods law: wherin the Prophet cannot satisfye hymselfe, nor sufficyently expres the affection whiche he beareth thereunto: adding moreouer manye notable complaynts & consolatyons, wherefore it is mete that all the faythfull haue it alway bothe in harte and mouthe, and in the Ebrue euery .vii. verses begyn with one letter of the Alphabet.
[The first parte.] [ALEPH.]
and pure in mind & hart:
whose liues and conuersation,
frō Gods lawes neuer start.
Blessed are they that geue them selues
hys statutes to obserue:
Sekyng the Lorde, with all theyr hart,
and neuer from him swerue.
nor doo no wicked thing:
Whiche stedfastly walke in his pathes,
without any wandring.
It is thy wyll and commaundement,
that with attentiue hede:
Thy noble and deuyne precepts,
we learne and kepe in dede.
my wayes so to adres:
That I myght bothe in hart and voyce,
thy lawes kepe and confes.
So should no shame my lyfe atteyne,
whylst I thus set myne eyes:
And bende my mynde alwayes to muse.
on thy sacred decrees.
The .ii. parte. BETH
his lyfe learne to amend:
If that he marke and kepe thy word,
and therin his tyme spend.
Unfaynedly I haue thee sought.
and thus sekyng abyde:
from thy precepts to slyde.
thy wordes I haue hyd styll:
That I might not at any tyme,
offende thy godly wyll.
We magnifye thy name (O Lorde)
and prayse thee euermore,
Thy statutes of most worthy fame,
(O Lorde) teache me therfore?
and publysh day and nyght:
The iudgments all, whiche did procede
from thy mouth full of might.
Thy testymonies and thy wayes,
please me no les in dede.
Then all the treasures of the earth,
which worldlings make theyr mede.
The thyrd parte. GIMEL
as may my lyfe prolong:
Thy holy worde then will I kepe,
bothe in my hart and tong.
so open and make bryght:
That of thy law and merueilous works
I may haue the cleare syght.
wandring now here, now there:
Thy worde therfore to me disclose,
my fotesteppes for to cleare.
My soule is rauished with desyre,
and neuer is at rest.
But seketh to know thy iudgments hie
and what may please thee best,
thou hast destroyd echone:
And cursed are suche as doo not,
thy hests attend vpon.
Lord turne me from rebuke and shame
whiche wicked men conspire:
For I haue kept thy couenaunts,
with zele as hote as fyre.
The .iiii. parte. DALETH
and almost turnd to dust:
as thy promise is iust.
My wayes when I acknowledged,
with mercy thou didst heare:
Here now eftsones, and me instruct,
thy lawes to loue and feare.
thy precepts and thy lore:
Thy workes then will I meditate,
and lay them vp in store.
My soule I fele so sore opprest:
that it melteth for grief:
According to thy word therfore,
hast Lorde to sende relyef.
let thy grace me defend:
And that I may learne thee to loue,
thy holy law me send.
The way of truth both straight & sure,
I haue chosen and founde:
I set thy iudgement me before,
whiche kepe me safe and sound.
The .v. parte. HE
of thy statutes deuyne:
And it to kepe euen to the end,
my hart will I inclyne.
Graunt me the knowledge of thy law,
and I shall it obey:
With hart and mind, and all my might,
I will it kepe, I say.
guide me Lorde, I require:
None other pleasure doo I wishe,
nor greater thing desire.
Inclyne my hart thy lawes to kepe,
and couenants to embrace:
And from all filthy auarice,
and shield me with thy grace.
turne backe myne eyes and syght:
Geue me the sprite of lyfe and power,
to walke thy wayes a ryght.
Confirme thy gratious promise, Lorde,
whiche thou hast made to me:
Which am thy seruaunt, and doo loue,
and feare nothyng but thee.
The .vi. parte. VAV
let me obteyne (O Lorde)
The sauing health let me enioy:
accordyng to thy word.
So shall I stop ye slaundrous mouths.
of leud men and vniust:
For in thy faithfull promises,
stand the my comfort and trust.
let euer still be prest:
For in thy iudgements wonderfull,
my hope doth stand and rest.
And while that breath within my brest
doth naturall lyfe preserue:
Yea till this world shalbe dissolued,
thy law will I obserue.
and made free from all drede:
Because I sought how for to kepe,
thy precepts and thy rede.
Thy noble actes I will describe,
as thinges of most great fame:
Euen before kings I will them blase,
and shrink no whit for shame.
The .vii. parte. ZAIN
thy seruaunt (Lorde) remember:
For therin haue I put my trust,
and confidence for euer.
It is my comfort and my ioy,
when troubles me assayle:
For were my lyfe not by thy worde,
my lyfe would sone me fayle.
still made of me a skorne:
Yet would I not, thy law forsake,
as he that were forlorne:
But cald to mind (lord) thy great works
shewde to our fathers olde:
Wherby I felt the ioy surmount,
my grief an hundred folde.
seing how wicked men:
Thy law forsoke and did procure,
thy iudgment: who knoweth when
And as for me, I framed my songs,
thy statutes to exalt:
When I among the straungers dweld,
and thoughtes gan me assalt.
The .viii. parte. HETH
My comfort and my stay:
I haue decreed, and promised,
thy lawe to kepe alway.
Mine earnest hart did humbly sue,
in presence of thy face:
As thou therfore hast promised,
Lorde graunt me of thy grace.
and tryde my secrete hart:
Whiche to thy statutes caused me,
my fete strayght to conuert.
I did not stay nor linger long,
as they that slouthfull are:
But hastely thy lawes to kepe,
I did my selfe beware.
haue made of me theyr pray:
Yet would I not thy law forget,
nor from thee go astray.
Thy rightous iudgment shewd toward me
so great is and so hie:
That euen at midnight will I ryse,
thy name to magnifye.
The .ix. parte. TETH
so hast thou with me delt:
For of thy grace in sundry sorts,
haue I thy seruaunt felt.
Teache me to iudge alwayes a ryght,
and geue me knowledge sure,
For certenly beleue I doo.
that thy precepts are pure.
I erred and went astray:
But now I kepe thy holy word,
and make it all my stay,
Thou art both good and gratious,
and geuest most liberally:
Thy ordinaunces how to kepe,
therfore (O Lord) teache me.
against me many a lye:
Yet thy commaundements still obserue,
with all my hart will I.
Their harts are swolne with worldly welth
as gras so are they sat:
and nothyng seke but that.
The .x. parte. IOD
to be thy creature:
Graunt knowledg likewise how to learne
to put thy lawes in vre.
So they that feare thee shall reioyce,
when euer they me see:
Because I haue learned by thy worde,
to put my trust in thee.
I know the cause is iust:
So when thou didst correct me Lorde,
the cause iust nedes be must.
Now of thy goodnes I thee pray,
some comforte to me send:
As thou to me thy seruaunt herest,
so from all ill me shend.
and I shall surely lyue:
For ioy and consolation bothe,
thy lawes to me doth geue.
is me for to destroy:
But as for me thy hestes to know,
I will my selfe employ.
The .xi. parte. GAPH
thy sauing health to craue:
And for thy wordes sake still I trust,
my hartes desyre to haue.
Mine eyes doo fayle with loking for,
thy word and thus I say:
Oh when wilte thou me comfort Lorde:
why dost thou thus delay?
so am I partcht and dryed:
Yet will I not out of my hart,
let thy commaundement slide,
Alas how long shall I yet lyue,
before I see the houre.
That on my foes whyche me torment,
thy vengeaunce thou wilt power.
thinking to make me sure:
my hurte they doo procure.
But thy commaundements are al true,
and causeles they me greue:
To thee therfore I doo complayne,
that thou mightest me relieue.
The .xii. parte, LAMID
thy word is stablished sure:
And shall for all eternitie,
fast grauen there indure.
From age to age thy truth abideth,
as doth the earth witnes:
Whose ground work thou hast layd so sure
as no tounge can expres.
how all thynges perseuer:
Accordyng to thy ordinance,
for all thinges thee reuere.
Had it not ben that in thy lawe,
my soule had comfort sought:
Long time yere now in my distres,
I had ben brought to nought.
in memory kepe fast:
By them thou hast my lyfe restorde,
when I was at last cast,
No wight to me can title make,
for I am onely thyne:
Saue me therfore for to thy lawes,
myne eares and hart inclyne.
The .xiii. parte. MEM
doo I beare to thy lawe:
All the day long my whole deuyse,
is only on thy lawe.
Thy worde hath taught me far to pas,
my foes in polycye:
For still I kepe it as a thyng,
of most excellencye.
in knowledge I excell:
Because I doo thy couenauntes kepe,
and them to others tell.
In wisdome I doo pas also,
the auncient men in dede:
I helde it aye best rede.
from euery euyll way:
Because that I continually,
thy worde might kepe, I say,
I haue not swarued from thy iudgmēts
nor yet shronk any dell:
For why? thou hast taught me therby
to lyue godly and well.
The .xiiii. parte. NVN
so doth thy word shine bryght:
And to my pathes, where euer I go,
it is a flamyng lyght.
I haue both sworne and will perform,
most certenly doubtles:
That I will kepe thy iudgments iust
and them in lyfe expres.
and brought me to deathes dore
O Lorde as thou hast promised,
so me to lyfe restore.
most frankly I thee geue:
Accept, and teache me how I may,
after thy iudgements lyue.
that daungers it assayle:
Yet doo I not thy law forget,
nor it to kepe will fayle,
Although the wicked layd their nets,
to catche me at a bray:
Yet did I not from thy precepts,
once swerue or go astray.
The .xv. parte. SAMECH
I doo alwayes detest:
But as for thy law and precepts,
I loued them euer best.
Thou art my hid and secret place,
my shield of strong defence:
Therfore haue I thy promises,
loked for with pacience.
depart from me anone:
of God my Lorde alone.
As thou hast promisd so performe,
that death me not assayle.
Nor let my hope abuse me so,
that through distrust I quayle.
for ought they doo or say:
And in thy statutes pleasure take,
will I bothe night and day.
Thou hast trod suche vnder thy fete,
as do thy statutes breake:
For nought auayleth theyr subtiltie,
theyr counsell is but weake.
The .xvi. parte. AIN
and geue to all men right:
Resigne me not to them that would,
oppresse me with their might.
But for thy seruaunt surty be,
in that thing that is good:
That proud men geue me not the foyle,
which rage as they were wood.
thy health so muche I craue:
And eke thy righteous promise Lorde,
wherby thou wilt me saue.
Intreate thy seruaunt louingly,
and fauour to him shew:
Thy statutes of most excellence,
teache me also to knowe.
oh graunt me to vnderstand:
Howe by thy statutes I may know,
best what to take in hand.
It is now time (Lorde) to begin,
for truthe is quyte decayd:
Thy law lykwyse they haue transgrest
and none against them sayd.
The .xvii. parte. PE
and full of thynges profound:
My soule therfore doth kepe them sure
when they are tride and found.
When men first enter into thy wordes,
they finde a lyght most cleare:
when they it reade or heare.
to know thy commaundement:
That I might guide my lyfe therby.
I sought what thyng it ment.
With mercy and compassion Lord,
beholde me from aboue:
As thou art wont to behold suche,
as thy name feare and loue.
that I thy will may know:
And neuer let iniquitie,
thy seruaunt ouerthrow,
From slaunderous tonges and deadly harms
preserue & kepe me sure.
Thy precepts then I will obserue,
and put them eke in vre,
The .xviii. parte. ZADE
the wicked though they grudge:
And when thou dost sentēce pronunce,
thou art a righteous iudge,
are two chief pointes most hye.
And suche as thou hast in thy law,
commaunded vs streightly.
and euen pyned awaye:
To see my foes thy wordes forget,
for ought that I doo may.
So pure and perfect is thy word,
as any hart can deme:
And I thy seruaunt nothing more,
doo loue or yet esteme.
as one of base degree:
Yet doo I not thy hestes forget,
nor shrinke awaye from thee.
Thy righteousnes (Lorde) is most iust
for euer to endure:
Also thy law is truth it selfe,
most constant and most pure.
The .xix. parte. BOPH
now answere me (O Lord:
I may fully accord.
To thee (my God) I make my sute,
with most humble request:
Saue me therfore, and I will kepe,
thy precept and thy hest.
before the day waxe lyght:
Because that I haue in thy word,
my confidence whole plyght.
Mine eyes preuent the watch by night
and yere they call, I wake:
That by deuisyng of thy word,
I might some comfort take.
and pitie on me take:
As thou wast wont so iudge me Lorde,
lest lyfe me should forsake.
My foes draw nere and doo procure,
my deathe malitiously:
Which from thy law are far gone back,
and straid from it leudly.
The .xx. parte. RES
consider and beholde:
Delyuer me, for of thy lawe,
I euer take fast holde,
Defend my good and righteous cause,
with spede me succor send:
From death as thou hast promised,
Lorde kepe me and defend.
from hauing health and grace:
Wherby they might thy statutes know
they enter not the trace.
Great are thy mercyes, Lord I graunt
what tong can them atteyne?
And as thou haste me iudged yer now,
so let me lyfe obteyne.
and persecute most sore:
Yet from thy lawes I neuer shronk,
nor went awry therfore.
And truth it is, for grief I dye,
when I these traitors see.
Because they kepe no whit thy worde,
nor yet seke to know thee.
The .xxi. parte. SCHIN
causeles to make me crouche:
But all in vayne, for of thy word,
the feare did my hart touche,
And certenly euen of thy word,
I was more mery and glad
Then he that of ryche spoyles and pray,
great store and plentye had.
I hate most and detest:
For why? thy holy law doo I,
aboue all thinges loue best.
Seuen times a day I prayse the Lord
singing with hart and voyce:
Thy rightuous actes and wonderfull,
so cause me to reioyse.
whiche doo thy statutes loue:
Nor danger shall theyr quiet state,
impere or once remoue.
My only health and comfort Lorde,
I loke for at thy hand:
And therfore haue I done those things,
whiche thou didst me commaunde.
The .xxii. parte. TAV
before thy face appeare:
And as thou hast me promise made,
so teache me thee to feare.
Mine humble supplication,
toward thee, let find acces:
And graunt me Lord deliueraunce,
for so is thy promes.
after most ample sort:
When thou thy statutes hast me taught,
wherin standeth all comfort:
My tong shall sing and preache thy word
and on this wise say shall:
Gods famous actes and noble lawes,
are iust and perfect all.
and spedely me saue:
For thy commaundments to obserue,
chosen, O Lorde I haue.
Of thee alone, Lorde I craue health,
for other I know none:
And in thy law and nothyng els,
I doo delyte alone.
Ad dominum cum tribularer.
Psal. cxx.
The praier of Dauid beyng now banished among the barbarious people of Arabia, by the false reports of enuious flatterers. And therefore he lamenteth his long abode amonge those infidels, who were geuen to all kind of wickednes and contetion.
vnto the Lord I call:
& he doth me cōfort:
deliuer me (I say)
frō liers lips alway,
And tong of false report.
Getst thou thus for to sting.
Thou false and flattering lyer?
Thy tongue doth hurt I wene,
No les then arrowes kene,
Of whote consuming fire.
Within these tentes so blake,
By whom the flocke elect,
And of Isaackes sect.
Are put to open shame.
I came a peace to make,
And set a quyet lyfe:
But when my worde was tolde,
Causeles I was controld,
By them that would haue stryfe.
Leuaui oculos meos.
Cxxi.
The Prophet shewed by his owne example that the faythful ought to loke for all their succor of God alone, who will gouerne and geue good successe to all theyr godly enterpryses.
frō whence I doo attend,
that succor God me send.
The mighty God me succor will,
which heauē and earth framed,
& all things therin named.
And will thee safely kepe:
For he will neuer slepe.
Lo he that doth Israll conserue,
No slepe at all can him catche?
But his eyes shall euer watche,
The Lorde is thy warrant alway,
The Lorde eke doth thee couer,
As at thy ryght hand euer.
The sunne shall not thee parche by day,
Nor the mone not halfe so bryght.
Shall with could thee hurt by night.
The Lorde will kepe thee from distres,
And wyll thy lyfe sure saue:
And thou also shalt haue.
In all thy busines good successe,
Where euer thou goest in or out,
God will thy thinges bring about.
Letatus sum.
Psalme. Cxxii.
Dauid reioyceth in the name of the faythfull that God hathe accomplished his promes, and placed his Arke in Sion, for the whiche he geueth thankes, and prayeth for the prosperitie of the Church.
to heare ye peples voyce,
in offering so willingly:
For let vs vp say they,
thus spake the folke full louingly.
Oure fete that wandred wide,
shal in thy gates abide,
O thou Ierusalem full fayre,
Which arte so semely set,
muche lyke a Citie net,
the like wherof is not els where.
The trybes with one accorde,
The tribes of God the Lorde,
Are thither bent theyr way to take:
So God before did tell
Their prayers shoulde together make.
For there are thrones erect,
And that for this respect.
To set forth iustice orderly.
Which thrones right to mainteine,
To dauids house perteine,
His folke to iudge accordingly.
To pray let vs not cease,
For Ierusalems peace,
Thy friendes God prosper mightely.
Peace be thy walles about,
And prosper the throughout,
Thy places eke continually.
I wish thy prosperous state,
For my poore brethrens sake,
That comfort haue by meanes of the.
Gods house doth me allure,
Thy welth for to procure
So much all wayes as lieth in me.
Ad te leuaui oculos
Psalm. Cxxiii.
A praier of the faithfull which are afflicted by the wicked worldelinges and contemners of God.
I lift mine eies to the,
Euen as the seruant lifteth his,
his maisters handes to see.
As handmaides watch there maistres handes,
some grace for to atchiue,
So we beholde the Lord our God,
til he do vs forgeue.
and mercy in thy sight:
For we be filled and ouer comen,
with hatred and despight.
Our mindes be stuffed with great rebuke,
the rich and worldly wise:
To make af vs their mocking stock,
the proude do vs despice.
Nisi quia dominus.
Psalm. Cxxiiii.
The people of God, beyng delyuered out of a great danger, acknowledg not to haue escaped by their owne power, but throughe the fauour of God, and shew in how greate perill they were.
If that the Lord had not our cause mainteind.
If that the lord had not our right susteind.
Whē all the worlde against vs furiously,
made their vprors, and said we should all die.
And swalowed quick, for ought yt we could deme,
Suche was their rage, as we might well esteme.
And as the flouddes, with mightye force do fall,
So had they now, our life euen brought to thrall.
Had long a go, ouer whelmde vs in the depe,
But loued by God whiche doth vs safely kepe,
From bloudy teeth, and theyr most cruell voyce.
Which as a pray to eate vs woulde reioyce.
Escapth away? right so it fareth vs:
Broke are theyr nets, and we haue scaped thus,
God that made heauen, & earth, is our help thē,
His name hath saued vs from these wicked men.
Qui confidunt.
Psalm. cxxv.
He describeth the assurance of the faithfull in their aflictions, and desireth their welth, and the destruction of the wicked.
as Mount Sion shall firmely stande,
and be remoued at no hand,
So that they shall be sure,
For euer to indure.
Ierusalem about to close.
So will the Lorde be vnto those,
who on his godly will doo wayte.
Suche are to hym so deare,
they neuer nede to feare.
by making wicked men his rodde:
Lest they through grief forsake their God,
it shall not as their lot still be.
Geue, Lorde, to those thy lyght,
whose hartes are true and ryght.
by croked wayes which they out sought,
The Lorde will surely bryng to nought,
with workes vile they shall abide:
But peace with Israell,
for euermore shall dwel.
In conuertendo.
Psalm. cxxvi.
This Psalme was made after the returne of the people from Babylon, and sheweth that the meane of their deliuerance was wonderful, after the seuentie yeres of captiuitie forespoken by Ieremie .25.12. and .29.10.
again his Siō had forth brought
from bondage great,
& also seruitude extreme,
his work was suche,
as did surmount mans hart & thought,
so that we were
muche like to them that vse to dreame:
our mouthes were
with laughter filled then,
and eke our tongues
did shew vs ioyfull men.
were forced then, this to confes,
How that the Lord
for them also great things had don,
But muche more we,
and therfore can confes no les:
Wherfore to ioye
we haue good cause as we begonne
O Lorde, go forthe,
thou canst our bondage end,
As to desertes
thy flowing riuers send.
that they whiche sow with teares in dede,
A time will come,
when they shal reape in mirth & ioye
They went and wept
in bearing of their precious sede.
For that theyr foes
full often times did them anoye:
But their returne
with ioye they shall sure see,
Their sheaues home bryng,
and not impered be.
Nisi dominus.
Psalme. Cxxvii.
It is not mannes wit, power, or labor, but the free goodnes of God that geueth ryches, preserueth townes and countreyes, graunteth noryshment and chyldren.
And therunto doo set hys hande:
What men doo build, it can not stand.
Cities and holdes to watch and ward,
Except the Lord be their safegard.
Though ye ryse early in the morne,
And so at night go late to bed,
Feding full hardly with browne breade:
Yet were your labor lost and worne,
But they whom God doth loue and kepe
Receyue all thinges with quiet slepe.
Therfore marke well, when euer ye see,
That men haue heires to enioy their lād:
It is the gift of Gods owne hand,
For God him selfe doth multiplye,
Of his great liberalitie,
The blessing of posteritie.
And when the children come to age,
They grow in strength and actiuenes,
In person, and comelines,
So that a shaft shot with courage,
Of one that hath a most strong arme,
Flyeth not so swyft, nor doth lyke harme
Oh well is him that hath his quiuer,
Fournished with such altilerye:
For when in perill he shalbe,
Suche one shall neuer shake nor shiuer.
When that he pleadeth before the iudge,
Against his foes which beare him grudg
Beati omnes qui timent.
Psalm. cxxviii.
He describeth the prosperous estate of them that be maryed in the feare of God, ioyning with all the promises of Gods blessinges, to all them that lyue in thys honorable estate, accordyng to his commaundementes.
and walkest in his way:
For of thy labor thou shalt eate,
happye arte thou (I say.)
Like frutefull vynes on thy house sydes,
so doth thy wyfe spryng out:
Thy children stande lyke Oliue plantes,
thy table round about.
Thus art thou blest that fearest God,
and he shall let thee see:
The promised Ierusalem,
and hys felicitye.
Thou shalt thy childrens children see,
to thy great ioyes increase:
And likewyse grace on Israell,
prosperitie and peace.
Sepe expugnauerunt
Psal. cxxix.
He admonisheth the churche to reioyce, though it haue ben afflicted in all ages, for God will delyuer it, and the enemies, for all their glorious shew, shall sodenly be destroyed.
euē frō my youth my foes haue oft me noied
A thousand euils since, I was tēdre & yonge
They haue wrought, yet was I not destroyed.
As yet I beare the marks in bone and skyn.
that one wold think yt the plow mē wt their plowes
Upon my back haue made their balkes far in:
For like plowd groūd, euē so haue I lōg forowes.
But yet the Lorde, which doth all things iustly,
Hath cut the ropes, & so slayd the wicked rage,
Euen so shall all suche perish shamefully,
Whiche hate Sion, or wish it any damage.
Upon the wales, or tops of houses most hye,
Whiche sodenly, or one bewar, widereth:
So that no frute on such herbes can gathered be,
Neuer man saw, that any mower mowed,
Suche grasse as that, or therof his hand did fill:
Much les that he, which glaineth of yt is sowed,
Under his arme bare, some thing his house vntill.
Nor yet that he, that passeth by that way
Sayth to the repers, God saue you, or God spede,
No no man doth wishe them good lucke, I saye,
Or pray yt God, would for their work graunt thē mede
Deprofundis clamaui.
Psalme. cxxx.
An effectuous prayer of hym that for his sinnes had susteyned great afflictions, and not withstanding, he fully trusteth, and assureth him selfe to obteyne mercy and forgeuenes of his synnes, and at length deliuereth from all euilles.
whē daūgers me oppres.
I call, I sigh plain and grone.
Trusting to finde reles.
Heare now, O Lord, my request.
And let thyne eares aye be prest,
vnto thys prayer myne.
O Lorde our God if thou way,
our sinnes and them peruse:
Who shall then escape, and say,
I can my selfe excuse?
But Lord thou art mercifull,
and turnest to vs thy grace:
That we with harts most carefull,
should feare before thy face.
In God I put my whole trust,
my soule wayteth on his wyll:
For his promise is most iust,
and I hope therin styll.
My soule to God hath regarde,
wishing for him alway:
More then they that watch and ward,
to see the dauning day.
Let Israell then boldly,
in the Lorde put his trust:
He is that God of mercy,
that his deliuer must.
For he it is that must saue,
Israell from his sinne:
And all suche as surely haue,
their cōfidence in him.
Domine non est.
Psalme. Cxxxi.
Dauid charged with ambytion and gredye desire to raygne, protesteth his humilitie and modestye before God, and teacheth all men, what they should doo.
I haue no skornfull eye:
I doo not exercyse my selfe,
in thynges that be to hye.
euen from his mothers brest:
So haue I Lorde behaued my selfe,
in sylence and in rest.
let hym be all thy stay:
From this tyme forth for euermore,
from age to age I say.
Memento domine.
Psalme. Cxxxii.
The faythfull, groundyng on Gods promise made vnto Dauid, desireth that he would establysh the same, bothe as touchyng hys posterytie and the buylding of the temple, to praye there as was forespoken.
how to the Lord he sware,
& voud a vow to Iacobs god
I wil not com within my house,
nor clyme vp to my bed,
nor let my temples take their rest,
or the eyes in my hed.
a place to set theron:
An house for Iacobs God to be,
an habitacyon.
We harde of it at Ephrata,
there did we heare this sounde:
And in the fildes and forrestes there.
these voyces fyrst were found.
his tabernacle there:
Before his forstole to fall doune,
apon our knees in feare.
Arise O Lorde aryse I say,
into thy restyng place:
Both thou and the eeke of thy strengthe,
the presence of thy grace.
with truthe and righteousnes:
Let all thy sayntes and holy men,
sing all with ioyfulnes.
And for thy seruaunt Dauids sake,
refuse not Lorde I say:
The face of thyne annoynted Lorde,
or turn thy face away.
and will not shrink from it:
Saying, the frute of thy body,
apon thy seate shall syt.
And if thy sonnes my couenant kepe,
that I shall learne eche one:
Then shall theyr sonnes for euer syt,
apon thy princely throne,
and loue therein to dwell:
Saying thys is my restyng place,
I loue and like it well.
And I will blesse, with great increase,
her vittales, euery where:
And I will satisfye with bread,
the nedy that be there.
with my saluation:
And all her sainctes shall sing for ioye,
of my protection.
There will I surely make the horne,
of Dauid for to bud.
a lanthorne bright and good.
As for his enmyes, I will clothe,
with shame for euermore:
But I will cause his crowne to shine.
more fresh then here to fore.
Ecce quam bonum.
Psalm. cxxxiii.
This psalme conteyneth the commendation of godly and brotherly amitie, which for thexcellencye therof is compared to the most pretious oyle, wherwith the Priestes only and instruments of the tabernacle wer annoynted, Exodus. xxx.
and ioyfull for to see:
Brethern together fast to holde,
the bande of amitie.
It callth to minde that swete perfume,
and that costly oyntment:
Which on the sacrifisers head,
by Gods precept was spent.
but drencht his beard throughout:
And finally it did runne down,
his ritche attire about.
And as the lower ground doth drynke,
the dew of Hermon hill:
And Sion with his siluer droppes,
the fields with fruite doth fill.
his blessings manifold:
Whose hartes and myndes without all guile,
this knot doo kepe and hold.
Ecce nunc.
Psalme. Cxxxiiii.
He exhorteth the Leuites that watch in the temple to prayse the Lorde.
ye seruants of the Lorde,
which in his house by night do watch,
prayse him with one accorde.
Lyft vp your hands on high,
vnto his holy place,
And geue the Lorde his prayses due:
his benefites embrace.
For why? the Lord, who did,
both earth and heauen frame,
Doeth Sion bles and will conserue,
for euer more the same.
Laudate nomen.
Psalme. Cxxxv.
He exhorteth all the faithful, of what estate so euer they be, to praise God for his merueylous worcks, & specially for his graces towards his people, wherein he hath declared his maiestie. To the confession of all Idolaters and theyr Idolls.
o praise him stil al ye that be
the seruaunts of ye lord,
o praise him ye that stand & be,
in the house of the Lord,
ye of his court and of his house
praise hym with one accord.
syng prayses to his name:
It is a comly, and good thing,
alwayes to doo the same.
For why the Lorde, hath chose Iacob,
his very owne, you see:
So hath he chosen Israell,
his treasure for to be.
the Lorde is very greate:
He is in dede aboue all Goddes,
most easy to intreate,
For what so euer pleased him,
all that fulwell he wrought:
whiche he hath framde of nought.
he makth the lightnings and rayne:
He bringkth forth the windes also,
He made nothing in vayne.
He smote the first borne of eche thing,
in Egipt that toke rest:
He spared there, no lyuing thyng,
the man, nor yet the beast,
O Egipt voyde of vauntes,
On Pharao thy cursed kyng,
and his seuere seruauntes.
He smote then many nacyons,
and did great actes and thynges,
He slew the great and mightyest,
and chefest of theyr kynges.
and Og kyng of Basan:
He slew also the kingdomes all,
that were of Canaan.
And gaue their lande to Israell,
an herytage we see:
To Israell, his owne people,
an heritage to be.
and thy memoriall:
Throughout all generations,
that are, or euer shall,
The Lorde will surely auenge,
his people all in dede.
fauour in tyme of nede.
in all theyr coste and landes:
Of syluer and of golde be they,
the workes euen of mens handes.
They haue mouthes and cannot speake.
and eyes toat haue no sight
They haue eares, that heare nothyng,
Theyr mouthes, be breatheles quite.
that so doth set them forth:
And lykewyse those, that trust in them,
or thinke they be ought worth.
O all ye house of Israell,
see that ye prayse the Lorde,
And ye that be of Aarons house,
prayse him, with one accord.
prayse ye lykewise the Lorde,
And all that stand in awe of hym,
prayse him, with one accord.
And out of Syon, sound his prayse,
the great prayse of the Lorde:
Whiche dwelleth in Ierusalem,
praise him with one accord.
Confitemini
Psalme. Cxxxvi.
A most earnest exhortaciō to geue thanks vnto God for the creation and gouernaunce of all thinges, which standeth in confessing that he geueth vs all of his mere liberalitie.
for hys mercy endureth for euer,
for his mercy endureth for euer
Geue prayse vnto the Lorde of Lordes,
for his mercy endureth for euer
which only doth great wōders work,
for his mercy endureth for euer.
for his mercy endureth for euer:
Which on the waters stretcht the earth,
for his mercy endureth for euer.
Which made great light to shine abrode,
for his mercy endureth for euer:
As sonne to rule the lightsome day,
for his mercy endureth for euer.
for his mercy endureth for euer.
Whiche smote Egipt with their first borne,
for his mercy endureth for euer:
And Israell brought out from them,
for his mercy endureth for euer.
With mighty hand and stretched arme,
for his mercy endureth for euer.
for his mercy endureth for euer,
And Israell made passe there through,
for his mercy endureth for euer.
And drouned Pharao and his host,
for his mercy endureth for euer:
Through wildernes hys people led,
for his mercy endureth for euer.
for his mercy endureth for euer:
And whiche hath slayne the mighty kynges,
for his mercy endureth for euer.
As Sihon king of Amorites,
for his mercy endureth for euer.
And Og, the king of Basan land,
for his mercy endureth for euer.
for his mercy endureth for euer:
Euen to his seruant Israell,
for his mercy endureth for euer,
Remembred vs in base estate,
for his mercy endureth for euer.
for his mercy endureth for euer.
Which geueth fode vnto all flesh,
for his mercy endureth for euer.
Praise ye the God of heauen aboue,
for his mercy endureth for euer:
Geue thankes vnto the Lorde of Lordes,
for his mercy endureth for euer.
Super flumina Babilonis.
Psal. cxxxvii.
The people of God in their banishment, seing Gods true religion decaye, lyued in greate anguish and sorow of harte, the whiche grief the Caldeons did so litle pitie, that they rather increased the same dayly, with tauntes, reproches and blasphemies againste God, wherfore the Israelites desire God to punish the Edomites who prouoked the Babilonians againste them, and moued (by the spirite of God) prophecy the destruction of Babilon, where they were handeled so tirannously
ye riuers rounde about:
and in remēbraunce of Sion
the teares for grief burst out.
We hāgd our harps & instruments,
the willow trees vpon,
for in that placemen for their vse,
sayde to vs tauntingly:
Now let vs heare your Ebrue songes,
and pleasant melody.
Alas (sayd we) who can once frame,
his sorowfull hart to syng:
The prayses of our louing God,
thus vnder a straunge kyng?
out of my hart let slyde:
Then let my fingers quyte forget,
the warblyng harp to guyde.
And let my tong within my mouth,
betyde for euer fast:
If that I ioy; before I see,
thy full deliueraunce past.
the cursed noyse and cry:
That Edoms sonnes againste vs made,
when they razed our citie.
Remember Lorde theyr cruell wordes,
when as with one accorde.
They cryed, on sack, and raze their wals,
in despite of theyr Lorde.
at length to dust be brought:
that our reuenge hath wrought.
Yea blessed shall that man be calld,
that taketh thy children yonge:
To dash theyr bones against hard stones,
whiche lye the streates amonge.
Confitebor tibi.
Psalme. Cxxxviii.
Dauid with greate courage prayseth the goodnes of God toward hym, whiche is so greate, that it is knowne to forren prynces, who shall prayse the Lord together with hym. And he is assured to haue lyke comforte of God in the time folowyng, as he hathe had here to fore.
my Lorde my God alwayes:
Euen in the presence of the Gods,
I will aduaunce thy prayse.
Towarde thy holy temple I
will looke and worship thee:
And praysed in my thankfull mouth,
thy holy name shall be.
and for thy truth withall:
For thou thy name hast by thy worde,
auaunced ouer all.
When I did call thou heardest me,
and thou hast made also:
The power of encreasced strength,
within my soule to grow.
geue prayse to thee, O Lorde:
For they of thy most holy mouth,
haue hard the mightye word.
in singing shall entreate:
Because the glory of the Lorde,
it is exceding great.
beholde the lowly spirite:
But he contemning knowes a farre:
the proud and lofty wight.
Although in middes of trouble I,
doo walke, yet shall I stand:
Renued by thee, O my Lord,
thou wilt stretch out thy hand.
and saued shall I be:
By thy right hand. The Lord God wil
performe his worke to me.
Thy mercy, Lorde, endures for ay,
Lorde doo me not forsake:
Forsake me not that am the work,
whiche thine owne hand did make.
Domine probasti.
Psalme. cxxxix.
Dauid to clense his harte from all hipocrisie sheweth that there is nothing so hye, whiche God seyth not, whiche he confirmeth by the creation of man. After declaryng his zeale and feare of God, he protesteth to be enemy to all them that contem God.
my sitting doste thou knew:
And rysing eke, my thoughts a farre,
thou vnderstandst also,
My pathes, yea and my lying downe,
thou compassest alwayes,
And by familiar custome art,
but knowne it is to thee,
Thou me behinde holdst and before,
thou layst thy hand on me.
To wonderfull aboue my reache,
Lorde is thy cunning skill:
it is so hie that I the same,
can not atteyne vntill.
Lorde whether shall I goo?
Or whether shall I flee away,
thy presence to scape froe?
To heauen if I mount aloft,
loe thou art present there:
In hell if I lye downe by lowe,
euen there thou dost appeare.
and let me goo and hide:
Euen there where ar the farthest partes
where flowing sea doth slide.
Yea euen thether also shall,
thy reaching hand me guide:
And thy ryght hand shall holde me fast.
and make me to abide.
yet shrowde me from thy sight:
Loe euen also the darkest night,
about me shalbe light.
Yea darknes hideth not from thee,
but night doth shine as day:
To thee the darknes and the light,
and thou hast couerd me:
When I within my mothers wombe,
enclosed was by thee.
Thee will I prayse, made fearfully,
and wondrously I am:
Thy works are maruellous, right well
my soule doth knowe the same.
although in secret place:
I haue ben made and in the earth,
beneth I shapen was.
When I was formeles, then thyne eye,
saw me far in thy boke:
Were written all (nought was before)
that after fashion toke.
how dere are they to me?
And of them all how passing great,
the endles nombers be?
If I should compt them, loe their summe
more then the sand I see:
And whensoeuer I awake,
yet am I still with thee.
of that thou woldest slaye:
Euen those O God to whom, depart,
depart from me, I say.
Euen those of thee O lord my God,
that speake full wickedlye:
beyng enemies to thee.
and not in earnest wise:
Contende I Lorde against them all,
against thee that arise?
I hate them with vnfayned hate,
euen as my vtter foes
Trye me O God, and know my hart,
my thoughtes proue and disclose.
in me there any be:
And in the way, O God my guide,
for euer leade thou me.
Eripeme.
Psalme. Cxl.
Dauid complayneth of the crueltye, falshod, and iniuryes of his enemies against whiche he prayeth vnto the Lorde, and assureth him selfe of hys helpe and succoure. Wherfore he prouoketh the iuste to prayse thee and to assure them selues of hys tuicion.
and from the cruell wight:
Deliuer me, whiche euell doo,
imagine in their sprite.
Whiche make on me continuall warre,
their tonges loe they haue whet:
Like serpents, vnderneth their lyppes,
is adders poyson set.
preserue me to a bide:
Free from the cruell man that meanes,
to cause my steppes to slide.
and they haue spred a net:
With cordes, in my path way, and ginnes,
for me eke haue they set.
thou art my God alone:
Here me O Lorde, oh heare the voyce,
wherwith I pray and mone.
O Lord my God thou only art,
the strength that saueth me.
My head in day of battell hath
ben couerd still by thee.
the end of his desire:
Perform not his wicked thought lest they,
with pride be set on fyre.
Of them that compas me about,
the chefest of them all:
Lord let the mischef of their lippes,
vpon them selues befall.
them in consuming flame:
And in depe pittes so as they may,
not rise out of the same.
For no backbiter shall on earth,
beset in stable plight:
And euill to destruction still,
shall hunt the cruel wight,
reuenge and iudge the poore:
The iust shall prayse thy name, iust shall
dwell with thee euermore.
Domine clamaui.
Psalme. Cxli.
Dauid being greuouslye persecuted vnder Saull, onely flieth vnto God to haue succour, desyring him to bridle his affections, that he may patiently abyde till God take vengeaunce of his enemies.
Lord hast thee vnto me,
and herken Lord vnto my voyce,
when I do crye to thee,
as inscence let my praiyer be
directed in thine eyes,
& the vplifting of my hands
as euening sacrifice:
set thou a watche before:
And also of my mouing lipppes,
O lorde kepe thou the dore.
That I should wicked works commit,
incline thou not my hart:
Lorde let me eate no parte:
for that is good for me:
Let him reproue me, and the same,
a precious oyle shall be.
Suche smiting shall not breake my hed.
the time shall shortly fall:
When I shall in their miserye,
make prayers for them all.
theyr iudges shalbe cast:
Then shall they heare my words, for then,
they haue a pleasant tast.
Our bones about the graues mouth,
loe scattred are they found
As he that heaweth wod, or he
that diggeth in the ground.
doo loke vp vnto thee:
In thee is all my trust, let not
my soule forsaken be.
Whiche they haue layd to catch me in.
Lorke kepe me from the snare:
And from the suttle grennes of them,
that wicked workers are.
together let them fall:
While I doe by thy help escape,
the danger of them all.
Voce mea ad.
Psalme. Cxlii.
Dauid neither a stonied with feare, nor caryed awaye with anger, nor forsed by desperation, would kyll Saule but with a quyet mind, directed his earnest prayer vnto God who did preserue him.
did I send out my crye:
And with my streamed voyce vnto,
the lorde God prayed I.
My meditation in his sight,
to poure I did not spare,
And in the presence of the Lorde.
my trouble did declare.
my pathe was knowne to thee:
In way where I did walke a snare,
they slyly layde for me
I lookt and vewd on my ryght hand,
but none there wold me knoo:
All refuge fayled me and for,
my soule none cared thoo.
my hope thou only art:
Thou in the lande of lyuing art,
my portion and my part.
Harke to my crye for I am brought,
full low: delyuer me.
From them that doo me persecute.
for me to strong they be.
from prison lord bringe oute:
shall prese me round about.
Domine exaudi.
Psalme. Cxliii.
An earnest prayer for remission of synnes, acknowledging that the enemies did cruelly persecute hym by Gods iust iudgment. He desireth to be restored to grace to be gouerned by his holy spirite, that he may spende the rest of hys lyfe in the true fere and seruice of God.
That I doo make to thee:
Lorde in thy natiue truthe and in,
thy iustice aunswer me.
In iugement with thy seruant, lorde,
oh enter not at all:
For iustyfyed be in thy syght,
no one that lyueth shall.
my lyfe to ground hath throwne:
And layde me in the darke like them,
that dead are longe agone,
Within me in perplexitie:
was my accombred spryte,
And in me was my troubled hart,
amased and afflight.
thy workes I meditate:
Yea in the workes I meditate,
that thy handes haue create.
To thee O lorde my God, loe I
doo stretch my crauing hands:
My soule desyreth after thee,
as doo the thirstye landes.
hide not thy face me froe:
els shall I be like them that downe
into the pit doo goe.
Let me thy louing kindnes in,
the morning heare and know,
For in thee is my trust, shew me
the way that I shall goe.
O Lorde deliuer me:
From all mine enemies, for I
haue hidden me with thee.
Teache me to doo thy will, for thou
thou art my God I say:
Let thy good sprite vnto the land,
of misery me conuey.
a lyue doo thou me make:
And out of trouble bring my soule,
euen for thy iustice sake.
And for thy mercy slay my foes,
O lorde destroy them all:
That doo oppres my soule for I
thy seruaunt am and shall.
Benedictus dominus.
Psalme. cxliiii.
Dauid prayseth the Lorde with greate affection, and humilitie for hys kyngdome restored, and for his victoryes obtayned, yet callyng for helpe, & the destruction of the wicked promisyng to acknowleg the same with song of prayses, and declareth wherin the felicytie of anye people consisteth.
instruct my hand to fight:
The lord that doth my fingers frame,
to battell by his might.
He is my Goodnes fort and toure,
deliuerer and shield:
In him I trust my people he,
subdues to me to yelde.
thou holdest so in price?
Or son of man that vpon him,
thou thinkest in such wyse.
man is but like to vanitie.
so pas hys dayes to ende:
As fleting shade. Bow downe O Lorde
thy heauens and descend.
cast fourth thy lightning flame,
And scatter them, thine arrowes shote
consume them with the same.
Send downe thy hand euen from aboue
O Lorde delyuer me:
Take me from waters great, from hand
of strangers make me free,
and fondnes doth entreate:
And their right hand is a right hand,
of falshod and deceit.
A new song I will sing O God,
and singing will I be.
tenstringed vnto thee.
deliuerance to kynges,
Unto hys seruaunt Dauid helpe,
from hurt full sword he bringes:
From strangers hand me saue and sheld,
whoes mouth talkes vanitie:
And their right hand is a ryght hand,
of guile and sutteltye.
whom growing youth doth reare:
Our daughters as carued corner stones,
lyke to a palace fayre,
Our corners full, and plenty may,
with sondry sortes be found,
Our shepe bring thousands, in our strets
ten thousands may abound,
that none doo vs inuade:
There be no going out, no crye,
within our strets be made.
The people blessed are that with
such blessings are so stered:
Yea blessed all the people are,
whose God is, God the lorde.
Exaltabo te deus.
Psalme. Cxlv.
This Psalme was made when the kingdome of Dauid florished. Wherein he describeth the wonderfull prouidence of God, as well in gouerning man as in preseruing al the rest of his creatures. He praiseth God for his iustice and mercie, but specially for hys louyng kindnes toward those that call vpon him, that feare hym and loue hym.
& bles thy name for aye,
for euer wil I prayse thy name
and bless thee day by day,
great is the Lord, most worthy praise,
his greatnes not cā reach
frō race to race they shal thy works
praise and thy power preache.
the beauty will recorde:
And meditate vppon thy workes,
most wonderfull, O Lorde.
And they shal of thy power and of
thy fearfull artes declare:
thy greatnes will not spare:
breake of thy goodnes great:
And I aloud thy righteousnes,
in singing shall repete.
The Lorde our God is gratious,
and mercifull also:
Of great abounding mercy and
to angre he is slowe.
his mercy doth excede.
Loe all thy workes doo praise thee lord,
and doo their honor sprede.
Thy sainctes doo bles thee and they doo
thy kingdomes glorye shewe:
And blase thy power to cause the sonnes
of men his power to know.
to sprede the glorious prayse:
Thy kingdome Lorde a kingdom is,
that doth endure alwayes.
And thy dominion through eche age,
endures without decay:
The Lorde vpholdeth them that fall,
the sliding he doth stay.
thou doest them all releue:
And thou to eche sufficing foode,
in season due dost geue.
Thou openest thy plentuous hand,
and bounteously doest fill:
with giftes of thy good will.
his workes are holy all:
Nere all he is that call on him,
in truthe that on him cal.
He the desires whiche they require,
that feare him will fulfill:
And he will heare them when they crye,
and saue them all he will.
that beare a louing hart:
But he them all that wicked are,
will vtterly subuert.
My thankfull mouth shall gladly speake,
the prayses of the Lorde,
All flesh to prayse hys holy name,
for euer shall accorde.
Lauda anima mea.
Psalm. cxlvi.
Dauid shewing the great desire he had to prayse God, teacheth that none should put theyr trust in men, but in God alone: who is almightye and deliuereth thafflicted nourisheth the poore, setteth prisoners at lybertie, comforteth the fatherles, widowes, and the straungers, and raygneth kinge for euer.
My God I will confes:
Whyle death and lyfe prolong my dayes,
my tonge no tyme shall cease.
Trust not in worldly princes then,
though they abound in wealth:
Nor in the sonnes of mortall men,
in whom there is no health.
to earth anone they fall:
And then the counsels of their hart,
decay and pearysh all.
O happy is that man, I say,
whom Iacobs God doth ayde:
And he whose houe doth not decay,
but on the lorde is stayd.
the heauens hie with all:
Which doth his word and promise kepe
In truth and euer shall.
With right alwayes doth he procede,
for suche as suffer wrong:
The poore and hungry he doth fede,
and lose the fetters strong.
the lame to limmes restore:
The lorde, I saye, doth loue the ryght,
and iust man euermore:
He doth defend the fatherles,
the strangers sad in hart.
And quite the wydow from distres,
and ill mens wayes subuert,
O Syon still shall rayne:
In tyme of all posteritie,
for euer to remayne.
Laudate dominum.
Psalme. cxlvii.
The Prophet prayseth the bountye, wisdom, power, iustice, & prouidence of God vpō all his creatures. But specially vpō his church whiche he gathereth together after theyr dispersion. Declaring hys word and iudgmēts so vnto them as he hath don to no other people.
vnto our God to synge,
For it is pleasante and to prayse,
it is a comely thyng,
the Lord his owne Ierusalem,
he buildeth vp alone,
and the disperst of Israell,
doth gather into one.
theyr sore vp doth he bynde:
He countes the number of the starres,
and names them in theyr kynde.
his wisdome infinite:
The Lord releues the meke, & throwes
to ground the wicked wight.
vnto the Lord reioyse:
And to our God vpon the harp,
aduaunce your singing voyce.
He couers heauen with cloudes, and for
the earth prepareth rayne:
And on the mountaines he doth make,
the grasse to grow agayne.
yong rauens when they crye:
His pleasure not in strength of horse,
nor in mans legges doth lye,
But all in those that feare the Lorde,
the Lord hath his delight:
And suche as doo attend vpon,
his mercies shining light.
thy God O Syon prayse,
For he the barres hath forged strong,
where with thy gate he stayes.
Thy children he hath blest in thee,
and in thy borders he:
Doth settle peace, and with the floure,
of wheat he filleth thee.
the earth he sendeth out:
doth swiftly runne about.
He geueth snow like woll, hore frost,
like ashes doth he spreade,
Like morsells castes his ise, therof,
the colde whoe can abide?
and melteth them agayne.
His winde he makes to blow, and then,
the waters flow amayne,
The doctrine of his holy worde.
to Iacob doth he shewe.
His statutes and his iudgements he,
geues Israell to knowe.
so dealt, nor they haue knowne
His secrete iudgementes, ye therfore,
prayse ye the Lord alone.
Laudate dominum.
Psalme. cxlviii.
He prouoketh all creatures to prayse the Lode in heauen, in earth, and in all places specially for the power that he hathe geuen to his people Israell, whom he hathe taken so nere vnto hym.
frō heauen, that is so hie:
Praise him in dede and worde,
And also ye
his angels all,
armies royall
prayse him with glee.
Praise him both mone and Sunne,
Whiche are so cleare and bryght,
The same in you be done,
Ye glistring starres of lyght,
And eke no les,
Ye Heauens faire,
And cloudes of the ayre,
His laud expresse.
For at his worde they were,
All formed as we see:
At his voyce did appeare,
All thinges in their degree,
Whiche he set fast,
To them he made,
A law and trade,
For aye to laste,
Extoll and prayse Gods name,
In earth ye Dragons fell,
All depe doo ye the same,
For it becommeth you well.
Him magnyfye,
Fyre, Hayle, Ise, Snowe,
At his decree.
The hilles and mountaines all,
And trees that frutfull are:
The Cedres great and tall,
His worthy prayse declare.
Beastes and cattell,
Yea birdes fliyng:
And wormes crepyng,
That on earth dwell.
All kinges both more and les,
With all their pompous trayne:
Princes and all iudges,
That in the worlde remayne,
Exalte his name.
Yong men and maides,
Olde men and babes.
Doo ye the same.
For his name shall we proue,
To be most excellent:
Whose prayse is farre aboue,
The earth and firmament.
For sure he shall,
Exalt with blisse,
The horne of his:
And helpe them all,
His sainctes all shall forth tell.
His prayse and worthines:
The children of Israell,
Eche one both more and les,
And also they,
That with good will,
And him obey.
Cantate dominum.
Psalme. cxlix.
An exhortation to the churche to prayse the Lorde for hys victorye and conquest, that he geueth his sainctes against all mans power.
a new reioysing song:
And let the prayse of him be heard,
his holy sainctes among.
Let Israell reioyse in him,
that made him of nothing:
And let the sede of Sion eke,
be ioyfull in their king.
vnto his holy name:
And with the timbrell and the harpe,
sing prayses of the same.
For why the Lorde his pleasure all,
hath in his peoyle set:
And by deliuerance he will rayse,
the meke to glory great.
let all the sainctes reioyse:
And now aloude vpon their beds,
aduaunce their singing voyce.
And in their mouthes let be the actes,
of God the mighty Lorde:
And in their handes eke let them beare,
a dooble edged sworde.
the people with theyr handes,
To bind their stately kinges in chaines
their lordes in iron bandes.
To execute on them the dome,
that written is before:
This honor all his sainctes shall haue,
prayse ye the lorde therfore.
Laudate dominum
Psalme. CL.
An exhortacion to prayse the Lorde without sease by all maner of wayes for all hys mightye, and wonderfull workes.
prayse in his sanctuarye:
And prayse him in the firmament,
that shewes his power on hie.
Aduaunce hys name and prayse hym in,
his mightye actes alwayes:
According to his excellencye,
of greatnes geue him praise,
of sounding tropet blowe.
Praise him vpon the viole and,
vpon the harp also.
Praise him with timbrell and with flute,
orgaines and virginalles:
With sounding cimbals praise ye him:
praise him with loud cimballs.
of breathing praise the lorde:
To praise the name of God the lorde,
agree with one accord.
The .x. Commaundements of almightie God. Exodus .xx.
of ferly things I wil thee tel?
Se that my words in mind thou bear,
And to my precepts listen wel.
I am thy Souerayne Lorde and God,
Whiche haue thee brought from carefull thrall:
And eke reclaymed from Pharos rod.
Make thee no Gods on them to call.
Nor facyoned forme of any thyng,
In heauen, or earth to worship it:
For I thy God by reuengyng,
With greuous plages this syn will smite,
Take not in vayne his holy name,
Abuse it not after thy will:
For so thou might soone purchase blame,
And in his wrath he would thee spill.
The Lorde from worke the seuenth day cest,
And brought all thinges to perfect end:
So thou and thyne that day take rest
Unto thy parents honor geue,
As Gods commaundements doo pretende,
That thou long dayes, and good maies liue,
In earth, where God a place doth lende,
Beware of muder, and cruell hate,
All fylthy fornication feare:
Se thou steale not in any rate,
False witnes against no man beare,
Thy neyghbors house wish not to haue
His wyfe, or ought that he caleth mine,
His field, his oxe, his asse, his sclaue,
Or any thing, whiche is not thine.
A prayer.
To kepe these lawes, our harts restore:
And cause vs all with one accorde,
To magnifie thy name therfore.
To kepe these lawes after thy will:
Thy might therfore (O Christ) we craue,
That we in thee may them fulfyll,
Thou art our strength, oh Sauior Christ:
Of thee to spede, how should we mis,
In whom our treasure doth consist.
With thy father in eche respect:
And with thy holy sprite alwayes,
The comforter of thine elect.
The Lordes Prayer.
And makst vs all one brotherhod,
to call vpon thee with one harte.
Our heauenly Father & our God:
graunt we pray not with lips alone,
but with the harts depe sigh and grone.
Thy holy worde mought vs inflame,
In holy lyfe for to abyde,
To magnifye thy holy name,
From all errours defend and kepe,
the little flock of thy poore shepe.
And henceforth euerlastyngly:
thine holy ghost into vs poure:
With all his gifts most plenteously,
From Sathans rage and filthy band,
Defend vs with thy mighty hande.
like as in heauen in earth also:
In trouble graunt vs pacience,
thee to obey in wealth and wo,
let not flesh, bloud, or any ill,
Preueile againste thy holy wyll,
And all other good giftes of thyne:
kepe vs from warre, and from bloudshed,
Also from sicknes, derth and Pine,
that we may liue in quietnes,
Without all gredy carefulnes.
Releue oure carefull conscience:
As we forgeue bothe great and small,
Which vnto vs haue done offence.
Prepare vs lorde for to serue thee,
In perfect loue and unitie.
Leade vs not when the find doth rage:
to withstande his inuasion:
Geue power and strength to euery age,
Arme and make strong thy feble host,
With fayth and with thy holy ghost.
The dayes and times are daungerous,
From euerlastyng deathe saue vs:
And in our last nede comfort vs,
A blessed ende to vs bequeath,
Into thy hands our soules receyue.
And thou hast power ouer all,
Thy glory shineth in all thinges:
In the wide world vniuersall,
Amen, Let it be done (O Lord)
That we haue prayd with one accord.
The .xii. Articles of the christian Faythe.
Is in the Lord of might,
the father which al things hath made
the day & eke the night,
the heauēs & the firmament,
and also many a star,
the earth: and all that is therin,
In Chryste oure Lorde, hys sonne:
Coequall with the deitie,
And man in flesh and bone.
Conceyued by the holy Ghost,
His word doth me assure:
And of his mother Mary borne,
Yet she a Uirgin pure.
For sinne in bonde and thrall:
He came and offred vp him selfe,
To death to saue us vs all.
And suffering most greuous paine:
Then Pilate beyng iudge:
Was crucifyed on the cros,
And therat did not grudge.
But quickned in the sprite:
His body then was buryed,
As is our vse and ryte.
His sprit did after this descend,
Into the lower partes:
To them that long in darknes were,
The true lyght of theyr hartes.
He rose to lyfe agayne:
Out of oll grief and payne.
Ascending to the heauens hie,
To sit in glory styll:
On Gods right hand, his Father dere,
According to his will.
When he shall come againe:
With Angels power, yet of that day,
We all be vncertayne,
To iude all people rightuously,
Whom he hath dearly bought:
The lyuing and the dead also,
Which he hath made of nought.
My fayth to satisfye:
The third parson in Trinitie,
Beleue I stedfastlye.
The holy and catholick Churche,
That Gods worde doth maintayne:
And holy Scripture doth alowe,
Which Sathan doth disdayne.
By Iesu Christ his death:
Release and pardon of my sinnes,
And that only by fayth.
What time all flesh shall ryse agayne,
Before the Lorde of might:
And se him with theyr bodely eyes.
Whiche now doo geue them light.
The shepe and Goates deuide:
And geue lyfe euerlastyngly,
to those, whom he hath tride,
Whiche is the realme celestiall,
In glory for to rest:
With all the holy company,
Of Saincts and Angels blest,
Obediently eche houre:
To whom be all dominion,
And prayse for euermore.
A Prayer vnto the holy ghost, to be song before the Sermon.
Comforter of vs all:
Teach vs to knowe thy word a right
that we doo neuer fall.
O holy Ghost, visit our coast,
defend vs with thy shild:
Against all sinne and wickednes,
Lorde helpe vs win the field.
and geue them will and might:
To perseuer in thy Gospell,
which can put sinne to flyght.
O Lorde that geuest thy holy worde,
send preachers plenteouslye:
That in the same we may accorde,
and therin lyue and dye.
the Preachers of thy worde:
Thot thou by them maist cut downe syn,
As it were with a sworde.
Depart not from those pastors pure,
but ayde them at all nede:
Whiche breake to vs, the breade of lyfe,
wheron our soules doo feede.
In peace and vnitie:
Kepe vs from sectes and errours all,
And from all papistrie.
Conuert all those, that are oure foes,
and bryng them to thy lyght:
That they and we, may well agree,
and prayse thee day and nyght.
and loue so to abounde:
That man and wyfe, be voyde of strife,
and neyghbours about vs rounde.
In oure tyme geue thy peace, O Lorde,
to nations farre and nye:
And teache them all thy holy worde,
that we may syng to thee.
that is of mightes most:
The lyuing Father and the Sonne,
and eke the holy Ghost.
As it hath bene in all the time,
that hathe been here to fore:
henceforth for euermore.
Da pacem domine.
Geue peace in these our daies o lord,great daungers are now at hand,
thine enemies with one accorde:
Christ name in euery lande:
seke to deface,
route out and race:
thy trew right worship in dede:
be thou the stay,
lord we the pray,
thou helpest alone in all nede.
Geue vs that peace: whiche we doo lack,
Through misbelief and ill lyfe:
Whiche we vnkindly gain striue.
With fire and sword,
This healthfull word,
Some persecute and opprisse:
Some with the mouth.
Confes the truth,
Without sincere godlines,
Geue peace, and vs thy spirite downe send,
With grief and repentaunce true:
Do pearce our harts, our liues to amend,
And by fayth, Chryst renue.
That feare and dread,
Warre and bloudshed,
Through thy swete mercy and grace:
May from vs slyde,
Thy truth may byde,
And shine in euery place.
The complaint of a Sinner who craueth of Christ, to be kept vnder hys mercye.
lord for my sinfull part:
in wrath yu shouldst me pay
vēgaunce for my desart.
I can it not deny,
but nedes I must confes,
how yt continually
thy lawes I doo transgres.
Thy lawes I do transgresse.
With sinners to contend
Then all thy flock shall spill,
And be lost without end.
For who liueth here so right,
That rightly he can say:
He sinneth not in thy sight,
Full oft and euery day.
The righteous man offendeth:
Seuen times a day to thee,
Wheron thy wrath dependth,
So that the rightwise man,
Doth walke in no such path:
but he falth now or than,
In daunger of thy wrath,
That euen the man rightwise:
Falth oft in sinfull bandes,
Wherby thy wrath may ryse.
Lorde I that am vniust,
And rightwisenes none haue:
My synfull soule to saue.
Wherto I cleaue and shall:
Whiche is thy mercy most,
Lorde let thy mercy fall.
And mitigate thy mode,
Or els we perish all:
The pryce of this thy bloud,
Wherin mercy I call.
No drop of bloud in thee:
But that thou didst not spare,
To shed eche drop for me.
Now let those drops most swet,
So moyst my hart so dry:
That I with sinne replete,
May liue and sinne may die.
Thys synne of myne in me:
I may be sanctifyed,
By grace of thine in thee.
So that I neuer fall,
Into suche mortall sinne:
That my foes infernall,
Reioyse my death therin.
From those infernall foes:
And from that lake so depe,
Wheras no mercy growes,
Confirmed with the iust:
That vnto thee belonges,
Whiche art mine only trust.
Through perfecte repentaunce the sinner hath a sure trust in God that his sinnes shalbe washed away in Christes ēloud.
geue eare vnto my wofull cry:
Refuse me not that am vniust:
but bowing downe thy heauēly eye,
behold how I doo still lament:
my sinnes wherin I do offende
O Lord for them shall I be shent:
Sith thee to playse I doo intend.
To deale with sinners in thine ire.
But when in hart they shall repent,
Thou grauntst with sped their iust desire
To thee therfore still shall I cry,
to wash away my sinfull cryme:
Thy bloud (O Lorde) is not yet drye,
but that it may help me in time.
To power on me the giftes of grace:
That when this life must flit away,
In heauen with thee I may haue place,
Where thou dost reigne eternally,
with God which once did downe the sēd
Where angels sing continually,
To thee be prayse world without end.
A thankes geuing after the receyuyng of the Lordes Supper.
And mercy euermore:
That he doth shew vnto his saynctes
To him be laud therfore.
Our tonges cannot so prayse the Lorde,
As he doth right deserue:
Our harts can not of hym so thynke,
As he doth vs preserue.
To vs that be but sinne:
That at our handes for recompence,
There is no hope to winne.
O sinfull flesh, that thou shouldest haue,
Suche mercyes of the Lorde:
Thou doest deserue, more worthely,
Of him to be abhord.
Doth rest within our heartes:
And stubburnely against the Lorde,
We dayly play oure partes.
The sunne aboue in firmament,
That is to vs a lyght:
Doth shew it selfe more cleane and pure,
Then we be in his sight.
More holy are then we:
They serue the Lorde in theyr estate,
Eche one in his degree.
They do not stryue for mastership,
Nor slake theyr office set:
But feare the Lorde and do his will,
Hate is to them no let.
Of God it is in awe:
It doth obserue the formers wyll,
By skilfull natures law.
The sea and all that therin is,
Doth bend, when God doth beck:
And feare his wrathfull check.
Were made them for to rule,
Do not so know or loue the Lorde,
As doth the Oxe or mule,
A law he gaue for vs to know,
What was his holy wyll:
He would vs good, but we will not
Auoyd the thing is ill.
The Lorde of lyfe to please:
Nor to the thyng that might vs ioyne
Our Christ and quiet ease,
Thus we are all his enemyes,
We can it not deny:
And he agayne, of his good wyll,
Would not that we should dye.
To bring vs vnto lyfe:
The sonne of God, our flesh he toke,
To mend our mortall stryfe:
And all the law of God our Lorde,
He did it full obey:
And for our sinnes vpon the crosse,
Hys bloud our dettes did pay.
what good he to vs wrought:
A signe he left our eyes to tell,
That he our bodyes bought,
Unto thyne eyes and tast,
His mercyes great thou maist record,
If that his spryte thou hast.
And was cut downe with sith,
And threshed out with many stripes,
Out from his huske to dryue,
And as the mill with violence
Did teare it out so small,
And made it lyke to earthly dust,
Not sparing it at all.
Did close it vp in heat:
And all this done that ye haue sayd,
That it should be our meat:
So was the Lorde in his ripe age
Cut downe by cruell death:
His soule he gaue in torments great,
And yelded vp his breath.
An euerlasting bread,
With muche reproche and trouble great,
On earth his lyfe he led.
And as the grapes in pleasant tyme
Are pressed very sore,
And plucked downe when they be rype,
Nor let to grow no more.
As comfortable drynke,
When sorowes make vs shrinke.
So Christes bloud out pressed was,
With nailes and eke with speare:
The ioyse wherof doth saue all those,
That rightly do him feare.
Into one lofe is knit:
So is the Lorde and his whole churche,
Though he in heauen sit.
As many grapes make but one wyne,
So shoulde we be but one:
In fayth and loue, in Chist aboue,
And vnto Christ alone.
In quyet rest and peace,
From enuye and from malyce both,
Our heartes and tonges to cease.
Which if we doo then shall we shew,
That we his chosen be:
By fayth in him to leade a lyfe,
As alwayes willed he.
God send vs all his grace:
Then after death we shall be sure,
With him to haue a place.
[Preserue vs Lorde, by thy deare word]
whiche bothe would thrust oute of his throne,
our Lorde Iesus Christ thy deare sonne.
That thou art Lorde of Lordes by ryght:
Thy poore afflicted flocke defend,
That they may prayse thee without end,
Be our Patron, helpe, and succor:
Geue vs one minde, and perfect peace:
All giftes of grace in vs encrease.
Thy name be praysed in vnitie:
In all our nede so vs defend:
That we may prayse thee, world without end.
The Whole Booke of Psalmes, collected into Englysh metre by T. Starnhold I. Hopkins & others: conferred with the Ebrue, with apt Notes to synge the[m] withal | ||