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

Dauid being in greate heauines and distres complayneth of the crueltye of Saule, and of the falshod of his familyar acquaintaunce, vtteryng most ardent affections to moue the Lord to pitie hym. After being assured of deliueraūce, he setteth forth the grace of god as though he had all ready obtayned his request.

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Sing this as the .xxxv. psalme.

[1]

O God geue eare and do apply,
To heare me when I praye:
And when to thee I call and crye,
hide not thy selfe awaye.

Take hede to me, graunt my request,
and aunswer me agayne:
With playntes I pray, full sore opprest,
greate grief doeth me constrayne.

Because my foes with threates and cries,
oppres me through despighte.
And so the wicked sorte lykewise,
to vex me haue delighte.

For they in counsell doo conspire,
to charge me with some ill:
So in their hasty wrath and ire,
they doo pursue me styll.

My hart doth faynte for want of breathe,
it panteth in my breste:
The terroures and the dread of deathe,
doo worke me muche vnrest.

Suche dreadefull feare on me doth fall,
that I therwith doo quake:
Suche horror whelmeth me with all,
that I no shift can make.

But I doo saye: who will geue me,
the swift and pleasaunte winges:

129

Of some, fayer doue that I may flee,
and rest me from these thinges.

Lo then I woulde go farre awaye,
to flye I woulde not cease,
And I woulde hide my selfe and staye,
in some greate wildernes.

I would be gon in all the hast,
and not abide behinde:
That I weare quite and ouer past,
these blasts of boisteous winde:

Deuide them Lord, and from them pul,
their diuilish double tounge:
For I haue spied their citie full,
of rapyne, stryfe, and wronge.

Which things, bothe night & day throghoute
doo close her as a wall:
In middes of her, is mischif stoute,
and sorow eke with all.

Her priuie partes, are wicked playne,
her dedes are muche to vyle?
And in her stretes there doth remayne,
all crafty fraude and guile.

If that my foes did seke my shame,
I might it well abide:
From open enmies checke and blame,
some where I coulde me hide.

But thou, it was my fellow dere,
which frendship didest pretend:
And diddest my secrete counsell here,
as my famillier frende.

130

With whom I had delight to taulke,
in secret and abrode:
And we together oft did walke,
within the house of God.

Let death in hast vpon them fall,
and send them quicke to hell,
For mischief rayneth in theyr hall,
and parloure where they dwell.

But I vnto my God doo crye,
to him for healpe I flee:
The Lorde doth heare me by and by,
and he doeth succour me.

At morning, noone, and euening tide,
vnto the Lorde I praye:
When I so instantly haue tryed
he doth not say me naye.

To peace he shall restore me yet,
though warre be now at hande:
All though the number be full greate,
that would against me stande.

The Lord, that first, & last, doth raigne
bothe now and euermore,
Will heare when I to him complayne,
and punish them full sore.

For sure there is no hope that they,
to tourne will once accorde:
For why they will not God obey,
nor doo not feare the Lorde,

Upon their frends they laid theyr hands
whiche weare in couenaunt knitte.

131

Of frendship to neglect the bandes,
they passe or care no whyt.

While they haue war within their hart
as butter are theyr wordes:
Although his words wer smothe as oyle
they cut as sharp as swordes.

Cast thou thy care vpon the Lorde,
and he shall nourish thee:
For in no wise wyll he accorde,
the iust in thrall to see.

But God shall cast them deepe in pit,
that thirst for bloud alwayes:
He will no guilefull man permit,
to lyue oute halfe hys dayes.

Thoughe such be quite destroyde & gon
in the (O Lorde) I trust:
I shall depende thy grace vpon,
with all my hart and luste.

University of Virginia Library

Exaudi deus.

Psalme, Lv.