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

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.]

[1]

Blessed are they that perfect are,
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.

303

Doubtles such men go not astraye,
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.

Oh would to God it might thee please,
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.

Then will I prayse with vpright hart,
and magnifye thy name:
When I shall learne thy iudgements iust,
and lykewyse proue the same.

And wholy will I geue my selfe,
to kepe thy lawes most ryght:
Forsake me not for euer (Lorde)
but shew thy grace and myght.

The .ii. parte. BETH

By what meanes may a yong man best.
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:

304

Oh neuer suffer me (O Lorde)
from thy precepts to slyde.

Within my hart and secret thoughtes,
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?

My lippes haue neuer ceast to preache
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.

Of thy precepts I will still muse,
and therfore frame my talke:
As at a marke so will I aime,
thy wayes how I may walke.

My only ioy shalbe so fixed,
and on thy lawes so set:
That nothyng can me so far blynde,
that I thy wordes for get.

The thyrd parte. GIMEL

Graunt to thy seruaunt now such grace
as may my lyfe prolong:
Thy holy worde then will I kepe,
bothe in my hart and tong.

305

Mine eies whiche were dim & shut vp,
so open and make bryght:
That of thy law and merueilous works
I may haue the cleare syght.

I am a straunger in this earth,
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,

The proud men and malitious,
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 princes great in counsel sat,
and did against me speake:
But then thy seruaunt thought how he.
thy statutes myght not breake.

For why thy couenants are my ioy.
and my great harts solace:
They serue in stede of counsellers,
my matters for to pas.

The .iiii. parte. DALETH

I am alas, as brought to graue,
and almost turnd to dust:

306

Restore therfore my lyfe agayne,
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.

Teache me once throughly for to know
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.

From lying and deceitfull lyppes,
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.

Since then (O Lord) I forced my selfe
thy couenants to embrase:
Let me therfore haue no rebuke,
nor check in any case.

Then will I runne with ioyfull cheare
where thy worde doth me call:
When thou hast set my hart at large.
and rid me out of thrall.

307

The .v. parte. HE

Instruct me (Lord) in the right trade
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.

In the right path of thy precepts,
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.

From vaine desire and worldly lustes
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.

Reproche and shame whiche I so fear
from me (O Lord) expell
For thou dost iudge with equitie,
and therin dost excell.

Beholde my harts desire is bent,
thy lawes to kepe for aye:

308

Lorde strēgthen me so with thy grace,
that it performe I may.

The .vi. parte. VAV

Thy mercyes great and manifolde,
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.

The word of truth with in my mouth,
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.

So walke will I, as set at large,
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.

I will reioyse them to obey.
thy worthy hests and will:
Which euermore I haue loued best,
and so will loue them still,

309

My handes will I lyft to thy lawes,
whiche I haue dearely sought:
And practise thy commaundementes,
in will in dede and thought.

The .vii. parte. ZAIN

Thy promise whiche thou madst to me
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.

The proude, and suche as God contemn
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.

But yet, alas, for feare I quoke,
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.

I thought vpon thy name, O Lorde,
by nyght when others slepe:

310

As for thy law, also I kept,
and euer will it kepe.

This grace I did obteyne, because,
thy couenants swete and deare:
I did embrace, and also kepe,
with reuerence and with feare.

The .viii. parte. HETH

O God, which art my part and lot,
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.

My lyfe I haue examined,
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.

The cruell bandes of wicked men,
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.

311

Companion am I to all them,
whiche feare thee in theyr hart:
And neyther will for loue nor dread.
from thy commaundements start:

Thy mercies (Lorde) most plentuously
doo all the worlde fulfyll.
Oh teache me how I may obey,
thy statutes and thy will.

The .ix. parte. TETH

According to thy promise Lorde,
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.

Yet thou didst touche me with thy rod,
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.

The proud and wicked mē haue forged,
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:

312

But in thy law doo I delyte,
and nothyng seke but that.

Oh happy tyme may I well say,
when thou didst me correct:
For as a guide to learne thy lawes,
thy rods did me direct.

So that to me thy worde and law,
is dearer manifold:
Then thousands great of siluer & golde,
or ought that can be tolde.

The .x. parte. IOD

Seing thy hands haue made me Lord
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.

When with thy rods, ye world is plagd
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.

Thy tender mercies power on me,
and I shall surely lyue:
For ioy and consolation bothe,
thy lawes to me doth geue.

313

Confound the proud whose false pretēce
is me for to destroy:
But as for me thy hestes to know,
I will my selfe employ.

Who so with reuerence doo thee feare,
to me let them retire:
And suche as doo thy couenants knowe
and them alone desire.

My hart without all waueryng,
let on thy lawes be bent:
That no confusion come to me,
wherby I should be shent,

The .xi. parte. GAPH

My soule doth faynt and ceaseth not,
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?

As a skin bottell in the smoke,
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.

Presūptuous men haue digged pittes,
thinking to make me sure:

314

Thus contrary agaynst thy law,
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.

Almost they had me cleane destroide,
and brought me quite to grounde:
Yet by thy statutes I abode.
and therin succor founde.

Restore me, Lorde, agayne to lyfe,
for thy mercyes excell:
And so shall I thy couenants kepe,
till death my lyfe expell.

The .xii. parte, LAMID

In heauens lord where thou dost dwel
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.

Euen to thys day we may well see,
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.

315

Therfore will I thy precepts aye,
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 wicked men doo seke my bane,
and therto lye in wayte:
But I the while considered,
thy notable actes and great.

I see nothyng in this wide world,
at length which hath not ende:
But thy commaundement and thy word
beyond all end extende.

The .xiii. parte. MEM

What great desire and feruent loue,
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.

My teachers whiche did me instruct,
in knowledge I excell:
Because I doo thy couenauntes kepe,
and them to others tell.

100

In wisdome I doo pas also,
the auncient men in dede:

316

And all because to kepe thy lawes,
I helde it aye best rede.

101

My fete I haue refrayned eke,
from euery euyll way:
Because that I continually,
thy worde might kepe, I say,

102

I haue not swarued from thy iudgmēts
nor yet shronk any dell:
For why? thou hast taught me therby
to lyue godly and well.

103

Oh Lorde howe swete vnto my tast,
fynde I thy wordes alwaye?
Doubtles no hony in my mouth,
fele ought so swete I may.

104

Thy lawes haue me such wisdō learnd
that vtterly I hate:
All wicked and vngodly wayes,
in euery kinde or rate.

The .xiiii. parte. NVN

105

Euen as a lanterne to my fete,
so doth thy word shine bryght:
And to my pathes, where euer I go,
it is a flamyng lyght.

106

I haue both sworne and will perform,
most certenly doubtles:
That I will kepe thy iudgments iust
and them in lyfe expres.

107

Affliction hath me sore oppressed,
and brought me to deathes dore
O Lorde as thou hast promised,
so me to lyfe restore.

317

108

The offrings which with hart & voyce
most frankly I thee geue:
Accept, and teache me how I may,
after thy iudgements lyue.

109

My soule is aye so in my hande,
that daungers it assayle:
Yet doo I not thy law forget,
nor it to kepe will fayle,

110

Although the wicked layd their nets,
to catche me at a bray:
Yet did I not from thy precepts,
once swerue or go astray.

111

Thy lawe I haue so claymed alway,
as mine owne heritage:
And why? for therin I delyte,
and set my whole courage.

112

For euermore I haue ben bent,
thy statutes to fullfill:
Euen so lyke wyse vnto the ende,
I will continue styll.

The .xv. parte. SAMECH

113

The crafty thoughts and double hart,
I doo alwayes detest:
But as for thy law and precepts,
I loued them euer best.

114

Thou art my hid and secret place,
my shield of strong defence:
Therfore haue I thy promises,
loked for with pacience.

115

Go to therfore ye wicked men:
depart from me anone:

318

For the commaundments will I kepe,
of God my Lorde alone.

116

As thou hast promisd so performe,
that death me not assayle.
Nor let my hope abuse me so,
that through distrust I quayle.

117

Uphold me and I shalbe safe,
for ought they doo or say:
And in thy statutes pleasure take,
will I bothe night and day.

118

Thou hast trod suche vnder thy fete,
as do thy statutes breake:
For nought auayleth theyr subtiltie,
theyr counsell is but weake.

119

Like drosse thou castes the wicked oute,
where euer they go or dwell:
Therfore can I as thy statutes,
loue nothyng halfe so well.

120

My fleshe alas, is taken with feare,
as though it were benomde:
For when I see thy iudgmentses strayt
I am as one astounde.

The .xvi. parte. AIN

121

I doo the thyng that lawfull is,
and geue to all men right:
Resigne me not to them that would,
oppresse me with their might.

122

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.

319

123

Mine eies with waiting are now blind
thy health so muche I craue:
And eke thy righteous promise Lorde,
wherby thou wilt me saue.

124

Intreate thy seruaunt louingly,
and fauour to him shew:
Thy statutes of most excellence,
teache me also to knowe.

125

Thy humble seruaunt, Lorde I am,
oh graunt me to vnderstand:
Howe by thy statutes I may know,
best what to take in hand.

126

It is now time (Lorde) to begin,
for truthe is quyte decayd:
Thy law lykwyse they haue transgrest
and none against them sayd.

127

Thys is the cause wherfore I loue,
thy lawes better then gold:
Or iewels fine which are estemd,
most costly to be sold,

128

I thought thy precepts all most iust,
and so them layd in store:
All crafty and malicious wayes,
I doo abhorre therfore.

The .xvii. parte. PE

129

Thy couenaunts are most wonderfull
and full of thynges profound:
My soule therfore doth kepe them sure
when they are tride and found.

130

When men first enter into thy wordes,
they finde a lyght most cleare:

320

And very idiots vnderstand,
when they it reade or heare.

131

For ioie I haue both gaped & breathed,
to know thy commaundement:
That I might guide my lyfe therby.
I sought what thyng it ment.

132

With mercy and compassion Lord,
beholde me from aboue:
As thou art wont to behold suche,
as thy name feare and loue.

133

Direct my fote steppes by thy worde,
that I thy will may know:
And neuer let iniquitie,
thy seruaunt ouerthrow,

134

From slaunderous tonges and deadly harms
preserue & kepe me sure.
Thy precepts then I will obserue,
and put them eke in vre,

135

Thy countenaūce which doth surmoūt
the sunne in his bright hew:
Let shine on me: and by thy lawe,
teache me what to eschew.

136

Out of mine eyes great flods gush out,
of drery teares and fell:
When I beholde how wicked men.
thy law kepe neuer a dell.

The .xviii. parte. ZADE

137

In euery point (Lord) thou art iust,
the wicked though they grudge:
And when thou dost sentēce pronunce,
thou art a righteous iudge,

321

138

To render right and flie from guile,
are two chief pointes most hye.
And suche as thou hast in thy law,
commaunded vs streightly.

139

With zele and wrath I am consumde,
and euen pyned awaye:
To see my foes thy wordes forget,
for ought that I doo may.

140

So pure and perfect is thy word,
as any hart can deme:
And I thy seruaunt nothing more,
doo loue or yet esteme.

141

And though I be nothing set by,
as one of base degree:
Yet doo I not thy hestes forget,
nor shrinke awaye from thee.

142

Thy righteousnes (Lorde) is most iust
for euer to endure:
Also thy law is truth it selfe,
most constant and most pure.

143

Trouble and grief haue seased on me,
and brought me wondrous lowe:
Yet doo I still of thy precepts,
delyght to heare and know.

144

The righteous of thy iudgements,
doo last for euermore:
Then teache them me, for euen in them,
my lyfe lyeth vp in store.

The .xix. parte. BOPH

145

With feruent heart I callde and crid
now answere me (O Lord:

322

That thy commaundement to obserue,
I may fully accord.

146

To thee (my God) I make my sute,
with most humble request:
Saue me therfore, and I will kepe,
thy precept and thy hest.

147

To thee I crye, euen in the morne,
before the day waxe lyght:
Because that I haue in thy word,
my confidence whole plyght.

148

Mine eyes preuent the watch by night
and yere they call, I wake:
That by deuisyng of thy word,
I might some comfort take.

149

Incline thyne eares to heare my voice
and pitie on me take:
As thou wast wont so iudge me Lorde,
lest lyfe me should forsake.

150

My foes draw nere and doo procure,
my deathe malitiously:
Which from thy law are far gone back,
and straid from it leudly.

151

Therfore (O Lorde) approche thou nere,
for nede doth so require:
And all thy precepts true they are,
then helpe I thee desyre.

152

By thy cōmaundements I haue learnd
not now, but longe ago:
That they remayne for euermore,
thou hast them grounded so.

323

The .xx. parte. RES

153

My trouble and affliction,
consider and beholde:
Delyuer me, for of thy lawe,
I euer take fast holde,

154

Defend my good and righteous cause,
with spede me succor send:
From death as thou hast promised,
Lorde kepe me and defend.

155

As for the wicked farre they are,
from hauing health and grace:
Wherby they might thy statutes know
they enter not the trace.

156

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.

157

Though many men did trouble me,
and persecute most sore:
Yet from thy lawes I neuer shronk,
nor went awry therfore.

158

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.

159

Beholde, for I doo loue thy lawes,
with hart most glad and fayne:
As thou art good and gratious Lorde,
restore my lyfe agayne.

160

What thy word doth decree, must be,
and so it hath bene euer,

324

Thy rightuous iudgements are also,
most true and decay neuer.

The .xxi. parte. SCHIN

161

Princes haue sought by crueltye,
causeles to make me crouche:
But all in vayne, for of thy word,
the feare did my hart touche,

162

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.

163

As for all lyes and falsitie,
I hate most and detest:
For why? thy holy law doo I,
aboue all thinges loue best.

164

Seuen times a day I prayse the Lord
singing with hart and voyce:
Thy rightuous actes and wonderfull,
so cause me to reioyse.

165

Great peace and rest shall all such haue
whiche doo thy statutes loue:
Nor danger shall theyr quiet state,
impere or once remoue.

166

My only health and comfort Lorde,
I loke for at thy hand:
And therfore haue I done those things,
whiche thou didst me commaunde.

167

Thy lawes haue ben my exercise,
whiche my soule most desired:
So muche my loue to them was bent,
that nought els I required.

325

168

Thy statutes and commaundements,
I kept thou knowest a ryght:
For all the things that I haue done,
are present in thy syght.

The .xxii. parte. TAV

169

O Lorde let my complaynt and crye,
before thy face appeare:
And as thou hast me promise made,
so teache me thee to feare.

170

Mine humble supplication,
toward thee, let find acces:
And graunt me Lord deliueraunce,
for so is thy promes.

171

Then all my lippes thy prayses speake,
after most ample sort:
When thou thy statutes hast me taught,
wherin standeth all comfort:

172

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.

173

Stretch out thy hand I thee beseche,
and spedely me saue:
For thy commaundments to obserue,
chosen, O Lorde I haue.

174

Of thee alone, Lorde I craue health,
for other I know none:
And in thy law and nothyng els,
I doo delyte alone.

175

Graunt me therfore long dayes to lyue,
thy name to magnifye:

326

And of thy iudgements mercifull,
let me thy fauor trye.

176

For I was lost and went astraye,
muche lyke a waydryng shepe:
Oh seke me, for I haue not fayled,
thy commaundmentes to kepe.

University of Virginia Library

Beati immaculati.

Psalm Cxix.