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

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.]

[1]

My soule praise the lord:
speake good of his name.
O lord our great god,
how dost thou appeare,

255

[2]

So passing in glory
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.

His chamber beames lye,
in the cloudes full sure,
Which as his charet,
are made him to beare:

259

And there with much swiftnes
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.

He groundeth the earth,
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.

The mountaynes full hygh
they then vp ascend:
If thou doo but speake,

257

So likewise the valleis
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.

He sendeth the springs
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 mountaines to moist,
the cloudes he doth vse:
The earth with his workes
are wholy repleat:

258

So as the brute cattell
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.

In these may birdes buylde,
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.

When darkenes doth come
by Gods will and power,
Then crepe forth doo all
the beastes of the wood:

259

The lions range roaring
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.

How sondry, O Lorde,
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.

All thinges on thee wayte:
thou doest them relieue,
And thou in due tyme
full well doest them fede.

260

Now when it doth please thee,
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.

Againe when thy sprite
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.

To thys Lorde and God
sing will I alwayes:
So longe as I liue,
my God prayse wyll I

261

Then am I most certayne
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.

University of Virginia Library

Benedic anima mea.

Psalm. Ciiii.

[The first parte.]

The thirde parte.