Confitemini domino.
Psalme. Cvii.
VV.K.
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.
[_]
Sing this as the .cxix. Psal.
[The first parte.]
Geue
thankes vnto the Lorde our God,
for gratious is he:
And that his mercy hath none ende,
all mortall men may se.
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,
He gathered them forth of the landes,
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.
Whose thirst and honger was so great
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.
And by that way which was most right
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.
For he the emptie soule sustaynde,
whom thirst had made to faynte:
The hungrie soule with goodnes fed,
and did them eke acquainte:
Suche as doo dwell in darkenes depe
where they of death do wayte,
Fast bound to tast such troublous storms
as yron chains doo threate:
The second parte.
For that against the lords owne words
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.
Then did they crye in their distres,
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.
Let men therfore before the Lord,
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.
The foolish folke great plagues do fele
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.
Then did they crye in theyr distres,
vnto the Lorde for ayde:
Who did remoue their troublous state,
according as they prayde.
For he then sent to them his worde,
whiche health did sone restore,
And brought them frō those dangers depe
wherin they were before.
The thyrde parte.
Let men therfore before the Lorde,
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.
Suche as in shippes or brittell barkes,
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:
And in the dangerous depe the same,
most maruellous they see.
For at his worde, the stormie winde,
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.
And like a drunkard, to and fro,
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.
For with his word the Lord doth make
the sturdie storme to cease:
So that the gret waues frō their rage,
are brought to rest and peace.
Then are men glad when rest is come
which they so muche doo craue,
And are by him in hauen brought,
which they so fayne woulde haue.
The forth parte.
Let men therfore before the Lorde,
confes his kindenes then:
And shew the wonders that he doth
before the sonnes of men,
Let them in presence of the folke,
with prayse extoll his name:
And where the elders doo conuent,
let them there doo the same.
For running floods to dry desertes,
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.
Againe the wildernes full rude,
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.
That they may sow theyr pleasant lād
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.
But whē the faithfull are low brought
by the oppressors stoute:
And minish do through many plagues,
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.
But yet the poore he rayseth vp,
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.
But who is wise that now full well,
he may these thinges recorde?
For certeinly suche shall perceyue,
the kindnes of the Lorde.
