Benedicam domino.
Psal. xxxiiii.
T. Stern.
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.
[_]
Sing this as the .xxx. psal.
[The first parte.]
I will
geue laud and honor both,
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.
Therfore see that ye magnifye,
with me the liuyng Lorde:
And let vs now exalt hys name,
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.
Who so they be that him beholde,
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:
Gen, 19. 31. 32. 4. Reg. 6. Heb. 1
Who did him heare without delay,
and rid him out of thrall.
The angell of the Lorde doth pitche,
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.
Feare ye the Lorde his holy ones,
aboue all earthly thing:
For they that feare the liuing Lorde,
are sure to lack nothyng.
The Lions shall be hongerbit,
and pinde with famine muche:
But as for them that feare the Lorde,
no lacke shalbe to suche.
The seconde parte.
Come neare therfore my children deare
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.
Turne backe thy face from doing ill,
Heb. iiii.c. Eccle. xv.d.
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.
But he doth frowne & bend his browes
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.
The Lord is kind and straight at hand
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:
But out of all aduersities,
the Lorde doth them deliuer,
The Lorde doeth so preserue and kepe,
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.
But they that serue the liuyng Lorde,
the Lorde doth saue them sounde:
And who that put their trust in hym,
nothing shall them confounde.
