Noli emulari.
Psalme. xxxvii.
W.W.
Because the godly shoulde not wonder to see wicked men prosper in
this world: the prophet sheweth that all thinges shal be graunted according
to theyr harts desire, to them that loue and feare God: & they
that do the contrary, although they seme to florish for a time, shall at lengthe peryshe.
[_]
Sing this as the .xxxv. psalme.
[The first parte.]
Grudge
not to see the wicked men,
in wealth to florish styll:
Nor yet enuie suche as to ill,
haue bent and set their will.
For as grene gras & florishing herbes,
are cut and wither awaye:
So shall theyr great prosperitie,
sone passe, fade, and decay.
Trust thou therfore in God alone,
to do well geue thy minde:
So shalt thou haue the land as thyne,
and there sure foode shalt find.
In God set all thy harts delyte,
and loke what thou wouldst haue:
Or els canst wish in all the worlde,
thou nedest it not to craue.
Cast both thy selfe and thyne affayres,
on God with perfect trust:
And thou shalt see with patience,
theffect both sure and iust.
The perfect life and godly name,
he will cleare as the light:
So that the sunne, euen at none daies,
shall not shine halfe so bryght.
Be still therfore, and stedfastly,
on God see thou wayte then:
Nor shrinking for the prosperous state,
of leude and wicked men.
Shake of despite, enuy and hate,
at least in any wise:
Their wicked steppes, auoyd and flie,
and folow not their guise.
For euery wicked man, will God,
destroy both more and lesse
But suche as trust in him are sure,
the lande for to posses.
Watch but a whyle, and thou shalt see,
no more the wicked trayne:
No not so muche, as house or place,
where once he did remayne.
The seconde parte.
But mercifull and humble men,
enioy shall sea and land:
In rest and peace they shall reioyse,
for nought shall them withstand.
The leud men and malicious,
against the iust conspire:
They gnash their teeth at him, as men,
whiche doo his bane desire.
But while that leud men thus do think
the Lorde laugh them to scorne:
For why he seeth their terme approche,
When they shall sygh and morne.
The wicked haue their sword out drawē
their bowe eke haue they bent:
To ouerthrow and kill the poore,
as they the right way went.
But the same sword shal pearse their harts
which was to kil the iust:
Likewise the bow shal breake to shiuers
wherin they put theyr trust.
Doubtles the iust mans poore estate,
is better a great deale more:
Then all these leud and worldly mens,
rich pompe and heaped store.
For be their power neuer so stronge,
God will it ouerthrowe:
Where contrary he doth preserue,
the humble men and lowe.
He seeth by his great prouidence,
the good mens trade and way:
And will geue them inheritaunce,
which neuer shall decay.
They shall not be discouraged,
when some are hard bested:
When other shalbe hungre bit,
they shall be clad and fed.
For whosoeuer wicked is,
and enemie to the Lorde:
Shal quaile, yea melt euē as lābs grease
or smoke that flieth abrode,
The thirde parte.
Beholde the wicked boroweth muche,
and neuer paith againe:
Wheras the iust by liberall giftes,
makth many glad and faine.
For they whō God doth bles, shall haue
the laude for heritage:
And they whom he doth curse likewise,
shall pearysh in his rage.
The Lord the iust mās waies doth guid
and geuth him good successe:
To euery thing he taketh in hande,
he sendeth good addresse.
Though that he fall, yet is he sure,
not vtterly to quayle:
Because the Lord stretche out his hand,
at nede, and doth not fayle.
I haue ben yong and now am olde,
yet did I neuer see:
The iust man left, or els his sede,
to begge for miserye.
But geueth alwayes most liberally,
and lend the wheras is nede:
His children and posteritie,
receiue of God their mede.
Flee vice therfore and wickednes,
and vertue doo embrace:
So God shall graunt thee long to haue
in earth a dwellyng place:
For God so loueth equitie,
and shewth to his such grace:
That he preserueth them euermore,
but destroyth the wicked race.
Where as the good and godly men,
inherite shall the land:
Hauing as Lordes all thing therin,
in their owne power and hand.
The iust mans mouth doth euer speake,
of maters wise and hye:
His tong doth talke to edifie,
with truth and equitie.
For in his hart the law of God,
his Lorde doth still abide:
So that where he goeth or walketh,
his foote can neuer slide.
The wicked like a rauening wolfe,
the iust man doth beset:
By all meanes seking him to kill,
if he fall in his net.
The forthe parte.
Though he should fall into his hands,
yet God would succor send:
Though men against him sentence geue,
God would him yet defend.
Wayt thou on God, and kepe his way,
he shall preserue thee then:
The earth to rule and thou shalt see,
destroyde these wicked men.
The wicked haue I sene most strong,
and placed in high degree:
Florishing in all wealth and store,
as doth the Laurell tree.
But sodenly he passed away,
and lo he was quite gone:
Then I him sought, but could scarse finde
the place where dwelt such one.
Marke and behold the perfite man,
how God doth him increase:
For the iust man shall haue at length,
great ioy with rest and peace.
As for transgressours, wo to them,
destroyde they shall all be:
God will cut of theyr budding race,
and ryche posteritie.
But the saluation of the iust,
doth come from God aboue:
Who in their trouble sendth them aide
of mercy grace and loue.
God doth them helpe, saue and deliuer,
from leud men and vniust:
And still will saue them whilst that they
in him do put theyr trust,
