Iudica domine,
Psalm. xxxv.
I. Hop.
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.]
Lorde
pleade my cause against my foes,
confounde their force and myght:
Fyght on my part, against all those,
that seke with me to fight.
Lay hand vpon thy speare & shild,
thy selfe in armour dres:
stād vp for me & fight the feld,
to help me from distres.
Gird on thy sworde, and stoppe the waye,
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.
Let them disperse, and flie abrode,
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:
And send thine aungell with thy might
to persecute them all.
For why without my faulte they haue,
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.
And let my soule my harte and voyce,
in God haue ioye and welthe:
That in the Lorde I may reioyce,
and in his sauing health.
And then my bones shall speake & saye
my partes shall all agree:
O lorde though they doo seme full gaie,
what man is lyke to thee.
The seconde parte.
Thou doest defend the weake from thē
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.
Where I to them did owe good will,
they quite me with disdayne:
That they should pay my good with ill
my soule doth sore complayne.
When they wer sicke I mornd therfore
and clad my selfe in sack.
With fasting I did faint full sore,
to pray I was not slacke.
As they had ben my brethern dere,
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.
The belly gods and flattering trayne,
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.
And then will I geue thankes to thee,
before thy churche alwayse:
And where as most of people be,
there will I shew thy prayse.
Let not my foes preuayle on me,
whiche hate me for no faulte:
Nor yet to winke or tourne theyr eye,
that causeles me assaulte.
The third parte.
Of peace no worde they think or say,
theyr taulke is all vntrue:
They still consult and would betraye,
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.
But Lorde thou seest what waies they take
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.
Accordyng to thy righteousnes,
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.
Confound them with rebuke & shame,
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.
Greate is the Lorde and doth excell,
for why he doth delyght:
To see his seruaunts prosper well,
that is his pleasaunt sight.
Wherfore my tonge I will applye,
thy righteousnes to prayse:
Unto the Lorde, my God will I,
sing laudes with thankes alwayse,
