Saluum me fac domine.
Psalm. lxix.
I.H.
The complayntes, prayers, feruent zele, and great anguish of Dauid
is set forth as a figure of Chryst, and all hys membres: the malicious
crueltye of thenemies, and theyr punishment also where Iudas and
suche traytours are accursed. Then gathered he courage in hys affliction
and offereth prayses vnto God, whych are more acceptable then
all sacrifyces: wherof all the afflicted may take comforte. Finallye he
doth prouoke all creatures to prayses, prophecying of the kyngdome
of Chryst, and the buildyng of Iuda, where all the faythful and their sede shall dwell for euer:
[The first parte.]
Saue
me, O God & that with spede,
the waters flowe full fast:
So nie my soule doo they procede
that I am sore agast.
I sticke full depe in filthe and clay,
wheras I fele no ground:
I fall into suche flouds, I say,
that I am like be drounde.
With crying oft I faynt and quayle,
my throte is horse and drye:
With loking vp my sight doth fayle,
for helpe to God on hye.
My foes that giltles doo oppres.
my soule, with hate are led:
In number sure they are no les,
then heares are on my hed.
Though for no cause they vexe me sore
they prosper and are glad:
They doo compell me to restore,
the thynges I neuer had.
What I haue done for want of wit,
thou Lorde all times canst tell:
And all the same that I commit,
to thee is knowne ful well.
O God of hostes defend and staye,
al those that trust in thee:
Let no man doubt or shrink awaye,
for ought that chaunceth me,
It is for thee and for thy sake,
that I doo beare this blame:
In spite of thee they would me make,
to hyde my face for shame.
My mothers sonnes my brethern all,
forsake me on a rowe:
And as a straunger they me call,
my face they will not knowe.
vnto thy house suche zeale I beare,
that it doth pine me muche:
Theyr checks & taunts at thee to heare
my very hart doth grutch.
The second parte.
Though I doo fast my flesh to chaste,
yea if I wepe and mone:
Yet in my teath this geare is cast,
they passe not thereupon.
If I for grief, and payne of hart,
in sackcloth vse to walke:
Then they anone will it peruert,
therof they iest and talke.
Both hie and lowe, and all the throng,
that sit within the gate:
They haue me euer in theyr tong,
of me they talke and prate.
The dronkards whiche in wine delyte
it is their cheif pastime:
To seke whiche may to worke me spite,
of me they sing and rime,
But thee the whyle (O Lorde) I pray,
that when it pleaseth thee.
For thy great truth thou wilt alwaye,
sende downe thyne ayde to me.
Pluck thou my feete out of the myre,
from drowning doo me kepe:
From suche as owe me wrath and ire,
and from the waters depe.
Lest with ye waues I should be drownd
and depth my soule deuouer:
And that the pit should me confound,
and shut me in her power.
O Lorde of hostes to me geue eare,
as thou arte good and kynde.
And as thy mercy is most deare,
Lorde haue me in thy mynde.
And doo not from thy seruaunt hyde,
nor turne thy face awaye:
I am opprest on euery syde,
in hast geue eare I say.
O Lorde vnto my soule draw nye,
the same with ayde repose:
Because of theyr great tyrannye,
acquite me fro my foes.
The thirde parte.
That I abide rebuke and shame,
thou knowest and thou canst tell:
For those that seke and worke the same,
thou seest them all full well.
When they with brags doo breake my hart
I seke for helpe anone.
But finde no frendes to ease my smarte,
to comfort me not one,
But in my meate they gaue me gall,
to cruell for to thynke:
And gaue me in my thirst withall,
stronge vineger to dryncke.
Lorde turne their table to a snare,
to take them selues therin.
And when they thinke full well to fare,
then trap them in the gin.
And let theyr eyes be darke and blynde
that they may nothyng see:
Bow downe their back & doo thē binde,
in thraldome for to be.
Powre out thy wrath as hoate as fyer,
that it on them may fal:
Let thy displeasure in thyne yre:
take holde vpon them all.
As desert drye theyr house disgrace,
their offring eke expell:
That none therof posses their place,
nor in their tents doo dwell:
If thou dost strike the man to tame,
on him they lay full sore.
And if that thou do wounde the same,
they seke to hurt him more:
Then let them heape vp mischief still.
sith they are all peruert:
That of thy fauor and good will,
they neuer haue no part.
And dash them cleane out of the boke,
of life, of hope of trust:
That for their names they neuer loke,
in number of the iust.
The forth parte.
Though I, O Lorde, with wo & grief,
haue bene full sore opprest?
Thy helpe shall geue me suche relief,
that all shall be redrest.
That I may geue thy name the prayse,
and shew it with a song:
I will extoll the same alwayes,
with harty thankes among.
Which is more pleasant vnto thee,
(Such minde thy grace hath borne:)
Then either Oxe, or Calfe can be,
that hath bothe hoofe and horne.
When simple folke doo this beholde,
it shall reioyce them sure:
All ye that seke the Lorde, beholde,
your lyfe for aye shall dure.
For why the Lord of hosts doth heare,
the poore when they complayne:
His prisoners are to him full deare,
he doth them not disdayne.
wherfore the skie and earth belowe,
The sea with floud and stream:
His prayse they shall declare and showe
with all that liue in them.
For sure our God will Sion saue,
and Iudaes cities builde:
Much folke possession there shall haue,
her streate shall all be filde.
Her seruaunts sede shall kepe the same,
all ages out of minde,
And there all they that loue hys name.
a dwellyng place shall fynde.
