Chapter IV: Part 4

The Earth, and all things which on the Earth remaine,
Euen all the world, doth to the Lord pertaine;
Amid the Sea, Hee founded hath the Land
And made this GLOBE aboue the floods to stand.
Who shall unto JEHOUAH'S MOUNT ascend?
Or who shall in His holy place attend?
Euen hee whose hands are cleane, whose heart is pure,
Whose tongue is true, whose oath is just and sure.
He shall receaue both righteousnes and blisse
From God, Whose mercy his saluation is.
Such are the seed of JACOB'S faithfull race,
Which seeke the Lord, and loue to see His face;
Ye euerlasting GATES, your heads upreare,
And let the King of Glory enter there.
That glorious name, to Whome doth it belong?
To God Most Mightie and in warr most stronge.
Eternall dores, lift [up] your heads, I say
That there, the King of Glorie enter may.
The King of Glory enters, what is Hee?
The Lord of Hosts is knowne that Kinge to bee.

PSALM XXV.

Mine humble soule O Lord! I lift to Thee,
On Whome my trust shall euer fixèd bee;
O suffer not my cheekes with shame to glowe,
Nor make me slaue to my insultinge foe;
For they which hope in Thee incurr noe blame,
But wilfull synners shall bee clothed with shame.
To mee, O Lord! vouchsafe Thy wayes to show,
And Thy right pathes, that I therein may goe;
Teach mee the way of truth, direct my will;
Thou art my SAUIOR, I attend Thee still;
Receaue mee Lord, and to remembrance call
Thy ould compassions, and Thy mercies all;
But of Thy wonted grace to mee, O Lord
Of the errours of my youth keep noe record;
The Lord is good, and for His goodnes' sake
Hee teaches sinners, godly wayes to take;
Yet Hee His learninge doth to non impart
But to the meeke and to the humble hart;
His pathes are grace and truth; that only way
Hee leads all those which doe His will obey.
For Thy name's glorie, I doe Thee intreat
To my great sinns, extend Thy mercie great
To him which feares the Lord, the Lord doth showe
How in his callinge hee may safely goe;
His soule shall bee at ease and all his race,
Shall in the Land possesse a blessed place;
His couenant and His counselles neare,[203]
God shewes to them in whome Hee plants His feare;
My looke to Him shall euer raisèd bee,
Who from the nett my captiue feet doth free.
Haue mercy Lord on mee! and turne Thy face
To see my desolate and wither'd case;
Enlargèd is my greife and heauines,
But Lord, enlarge Thou mee from my distresse!
Looke on the wofull STATE that I am in;
REMITT the cause thereof, which is my synne;
My foes consider, and their multitude
Which mee with deadly hatred hath pursude;
And keepe my soule[204] from sinne,[205] my face from shame,
Who trust in Thee and call upon Thy name.
Let truth and righteousnes without deceipt
Still wait on mee, because on Thee I wait;
And sett Thy faithfull ISRAELL at rest
From all the trubles which doe him molest.

[Footnote 203: Though not written with the contraction-sign of 'es' it is spelled therewith. The measure requires 'neare' to be read as a bi-syllable. G.]

[Footnote 204: 'face' previously written and erased. G.]

[Footnote 205: 'Shame' for 'sinne:' but also erased. G.]

PSALM XXVI.

Bee thou my IUDGE, O LORD! my cause is just;
I shall not stagger while in Thee I trust.
Weigh and examine mee, search all my vaines,
The bottom of my heart and inward raines;
I sett Thy goodnes euer in my sight,
Which in Thy truth doth guide my stepps aright;
I use not to conuerse with persons vaine,
Nor with dissemblers fellowship retaine;
My soule the assembly of the wicked hates.
Nor will I sitt among ungodly MATES;
REPENTENCE haueing made my conscience cleare,
Then will I Lord, approach Thine ALTER neare;
That I may thanke [Thee] both with harte and voyce,
And tellinge of Thy wondrous workes rejoyce
Thy temple Lord, I loue exceeding well,
Wherein Thy MAJESTIE AND GLORIE dwell.
O let not sinfull men my soule enclose,
Nor of my life let sinfull men dispose;
Whose hands are foule, their sinnes them foule doe make,
And full of guifts which they coruptly take;
But I to leaue a blamelesse life entend:
O Lord therein with mercie mee defend.
My foot stands right and therefore all my dayes
In all assemblies I the Lord will praise.

PSALM XXVII.

GOD IS MY LIGHT, SALUATION, strength and aid,
Of whome and what shall I then bee afraid?
The wicked came to haue devour'd mee quite,
But stumbled in their way, and fell downe-right.
Though mighty armies in my wayes were laid,
I stand secure, I cannot bee dismaid.
One thinge I wish, euen while I liue to dwell,
In God's faire House, where beauty doth excell;
His tent, in time of truble, shall mee hide,
And I shall on His rocke of safety bide;
Now shall Hee lift my head aboue my foes,
Which mee with armèd multitudes, enclose;
And now will I His praise in trihumph singe,
And joyfull offerings to His temple bringe;
And let my cries approach Thy gracious eare,
Vouchsafe in mercie my complaints to heare;
My heart doth tell that Thou bidst mee still
Thy face to seeke: Lord! seek Thy face I will.
Then doe not hide from mee Thy face soe bright,
Nor in Thy wrath exclude mee from Thy sight;
Thou euer wast mine aid, since I was borne:
God of my safety leaue me not forlorne.
My father and my mother both forsooke mee,
But then the Lord to his tuition tooke mee;
Teach mee the way that I therein may goe,
Soe shall I neuer fall before my foe;
Nor fall into their power which doe me hate,
And brought false oathes against mee in the gate.
My heart had fail'd but that my hope to see
GOD'S endlesse blisse in heauen, did comfort mee.
Then stay God's time, Hee shall thee stay at length,
And Hee till then shall arme thy heart with strength.

PSALM XXVIII.

Heare (Lord my strength!) the crie I make to Thee!
I am but dead, if Thou seeme deafe to mee:
Heare, when with humble prayer, I Thee entreat,
With lifted hands before Thy mercy seate.
But rancke me not with those which wicked are,
Whose lipps speake peace, whose hearts are full of warr;
Accordinge to their actions let them speed,
And as their merrit is, soe make their need;
For that they see Thy workes, and yet neglect them,
Thou shall destroy and neuer more erect them:
The Lord bee praisd Who hath vouchsaft to heare,
And lend unto my prayer a gracious eare;
HIS SHEILD protects, His strength doth mee aduance;
My tongue shall sing His praise, my heart shall dance;
Hee to His seruants, force, and vertue, giues;
Through Him in safetie His annoynted liues.
Saue Thy peculier people, Lord! and blesse them,
And lift their heads aboue them that oppresse them.

PSALM XXIX.

Yee kings, since by GOD'S power and grace, yee raigne,
Glory and power ascribe to Him againe;
Yeild Him the honnour due to His great name,
And in His glorious COURTS, His praise proclaime;
His voyce doth cause the Seas, to swell and shake,
And in the heauens the dreadfull thunder make;
JEHOUAH'S voice, effects of power doth breed,
It is a stronge and glorious voyce indeed;
His voyce the cedar doth in sunder teare,
The Cedars which MOUNT LEBANUS doth beare;
Makes LEBANUS, and HERMON hill, to tremble
And skippinge CALUES and UNICORNES, resemble;
Doth breake the clouds, and flames of fire deuide,
The deserts shake, euen CADES[206] desert wide;
Makes hindes to calue, for feare makes forrests bare,
While in His temple wee His praise declare;
The Lord vpon the water-floods doth raigne,
The Lord a KINGE for euer doth remaine;
The Lord shall still His people's strength encrease,
And giue to them the blessinge of His peace.

[Footnote 206: The Kadesh of our Authorised Version is spelled Cades in the Prayer Book. G.]

PSALM XXX.

Highly the Lord I praise Who setts mee high
Aboue my proud insultinge enimie;
Sicke to the death, I cried to GOD for ease,
And Hee hath cur'd my dangerous disease;
Hee from the graue hath lifted up my head
And hath reduc't[207] mee from among the dead.
Yee SAINTS of His in songs His praise expresse,
With thankes[208] make mention of His holines;
For momentarie His displeasure is,
When in His fauour there is life and blisse;
Sad sorrow may continue for a night,
But joy returneth with the morninge light.
When my estate did prosper, then said I
I shall not fall, my seat is fixt on high.
But when Thou Lord, didst turne Thy face aside,
Then was I trubled, and to Thee I cride;
To Thee began I then againe to pray,
And in my humble prayer thus did say:
What profit can there by my death arise,
When buried in the graue my body lies?
Shall dust and ashes celebrate Thy name?
Or shall the silent TOOMBE Thy truth proclaime?
Lord, heare my prayer, and then Thy mercie show
In aidinge mee against my cruell foe!
Loe now to dancinge,[209] Thou hast turn'd my sadnes,
Out[210] of my sackloth girded mee with gladnes.
For this shall euerie good man singe Thy praise,
And I shall thanke and blesse Thee all my dayes.

[Footnote 207: = re-led. G.]

[Footnote 208: With reference to the 'es' here and elsewhere, it is given only when written in full and not by contraction-sign: the latter, except where the rhythm demands it, is represented by the simple 's' of our modern plural. Cf. prefatory Note to these 'Psalms,' _ante_. G.]

[Footnote 209: 'sadnes' written and erased here. G.]

[Footnote 210: I am uncertain whether this is 'But' or 'Out.' G.]

PSALM XXXI.

In Thee, O Lord! haue I put all my trust,
Then rescue mee from shame, as Thou art just;
Giue eare, and soone from perill sett mee free;
Bee Thou a Rocke and stronge defence to mee;
Thou art my Rocke and Castle when I stray;
Bee Thou my Guide, and leade mee in the way.
Thou art my strength; O cleare mee from that net
Which priuily my foes for mee haue sett!
Into Thy hands[211] my soule I doe committ:
LORD GOD of truth Thou hast redeemèd it.
I hate all those which in vain lies delight,
For all my trust is in the Lord of might.
Thy mercies glad my heart: for in my woe
Thou hast vouchsaft my [weary] soule to knowe.
Thou hast not left mee prisoner with my foe,
But sett me free that I at large may goe.
Yeild to my trubles mercifull releife,
My eares waxe deafe, my heart doth melt with greife.
Few are my yeares, in number to be tould,
Yet sorrow, care, and greife, hath made mee ould;
My strength with prayer and anguish doth decay,
My joynts growe weake, my bones consume away;
I am a scorne to all my enimies,
But specially my NEIGHBOURS mee dispise;
My very presence did my friends affright,
And all my ould acquaintance shun my sight.
I am forgott as if I buried lay,
And viler then a broken pott of clay.
I heard the waylings of the multitude
And trembled while they did my death conclude;
But all my hope hath beene O Lord in Thee,
Whome I professe my only Lord to bee;
My tyme is in Thy hand, O doe not leaue
Mee in their hands which would my life bereue.
O turne to mee the brightnes of Thy face,
And saue mee through Thy mercy and Thy grace;
Make not mee blush which did invoke Thy name,
But put my foes to silence and to shame;
And let the lipps bee dumbe which vtter lyes
Against the righteous in spightfull-wise.
O what blessings, dost Thou keepe in store
For them that feare and loue Thee euermore;
Thou shalt protect them from the great men's pride,
And in Thy Tent from stormes of tongues them hide.
Blest bee the Lord Whose mercies manifold
Doe keepe mee safer then the strongest hold;
When I with passion was transported quite,
I said I was sequester'd from His sight;
And yet for all my weaknes, heard was I,
When to my MAKER I did make my crie.
Loue Him yee SAINTS of His who guardeth those
Who trust in Him: and pay'st[212] their proudest foes.
Yee that rely on Him be strong of hart
And Hee to you shall heauenly strength jmpart.

[Footnote 211: In MS. another example of the contraction-sign of 'es' with 'e' preceding. Cf. prefatory Note, as _supra_. G.]

[Footnote 212: This word has been altered in the MS. by the (original) writer, and the reading cannot be very certainly made out; but I read pay'st = plenteously rewarded. G.]

PSALM XXXII.

Happie indeed and truly blest is hee
Whose sinnes remitted and faults couerèd bee;
To whome the Lord doth not jmpute his sinne,
Whose single heart hath not deceipt therein.
When I was silent I consum'd away,
And pyninge greife did waste mee day by day;
Thy hand on mee was heauy still, whereby
My moisture grewe like draught in Summer drie.
My sinne I will acknowledge Lord to Thee,
My secret faults shall not concealèd bee;
I said, I will my synnes to God confesse,
And God forthwith forgaue my wickednesse.
If good men seeke Him when Hee may be found,
The world's high waues shall neuer them surround;
Thou hid'st mee close and sauest mee from annoy,
And dost enuirone mee with songs of joy;
When Thou hast sett mee in Thyne owne right way,
Thine eye doth guide mee that I doe not stray.
Then must I not be brute, as horse and mule,
Which men with bitt and bridle only rule.
With many whipps, God doth the wicked chase
But doth with mercies faithfull men embrace;
Bee glad, rejoyce, and glory in the Lord
All yee whose hearts doth with His will accord.

PSALM XXXIII.

Rejoyce yee righteous in the Lord, and singe;
To giue God thankes, it is a comely thinge:
Singe prayses unto Him and sett your songs
To harpe and lute, that speaketh with ten tongues;
Singe to the Lord a new composèd songe,
With chearefull heart and with affection stronge;
For His most holy Word is euer true,
And all His workes His constancie doe shew.
Hee loueth right and justice euermore,
And with His blessinge Hee the earth doth store;
For by His word the heauens created were;
His breath made euery STARR and euery sp'ere;[213]
The Seas, as in a STOREHOUSE Hee doth keepe,
And heapes them up as treasures in the deepe;
The earth before the LORD shall quake for feare,
And all that dwell on His round CENTER here:
Hee spake, and they were made; at His commaund
The heauens began to moue, the earth to stand.
COUNSELLS of princes and of NATIONS great,
And peoples' plotts, His wisdome doth defeat;
But GOD'S owne counsell, purpose and decree,
Eternall stand, and cannot frustrate bee.
That NATION hath true happines and blisse,
Whose GOD and LORD, the LORD JEHOUAH is;
Downe from the highest heauen the Lord did looke,
And of all men a full suruey Hee tooke;
From Heauen aboue the Lord did cast His eye,
And all mens wayes and wanderings did espie.
Hee formèd all their hearts, and understands
Their thoughts, their words, and workes of all their hands.
The greatest armies cannot saue a KINGE,
Nor strength unto a stronge man safety bringe;
His trust is vaine who trusteth in his horse,
And seekes deliuerance by soe small a force;
With gracious eye the Lord behoulds the just,
Which Him doe feare and in His mercie trust:
In tyme of dearth their hungrie soules to feed
And from deathe's jawes to rescue them with speed.
Our soules with patience for the Lord haue staid,
Who is our only sheild, support and aid;
Our hearts shall Him as our true joy embrace,
For wee our only trust in Him doe place.
Thy mercie Lord to us exceeded bee,
According to the hope wee haue in Thee.

[Footnote 213: Qu: = sphere? G.]

PSALM XXXIV.

Lord euermore will I giue thankes to Thee,
And in my mouth Thy praise shall euer bee;
My soule shall boast that shee Thy seruant is,
The humble shall be glad to heare of this;
Come then, O come, and let vs praise the Lord,
And magnifie His name with sweet accord.
I sought the Lord by prayer which He did heare,
And saued mee from that ill my soule did feare.
Looke towards God, thou shalt enlightenèd bee,
And no foule shame shall euer light on thee.
The poor man's crie, the Lord doth quickly heare,
And doth for all his trubles quitt him cleare;
Such as feare God His Angell guards them all,
From euery mischeife that may them befall.
O taste the Lord, and see how sweet Hee is,
The man that trusts in Him liues still in bliss.
O feare the Lord, yee that are SAINTS of His,
Who feare the Lord noe needfull thinge shall misse.
Rich become poore, and lyons hungrie bee,
But such as feare the Lord noe want shall see.
Come then yee children, listen and giue eare,
And I will teach you this religious feare:
What man art thou that longest long to liue,
And wouldst that GOD to thee good dayes should giue;
Refraine thy tongue from speaking ill the while,
And from thy lipps let there proceed noe guile;
Doe that is good, decline from that is ill,
Seeke peace with God and men, and hould it still.
Upon good men God casts a gentle eye,
And bends a gentle eare unto their crye.
But to the wicked shewes an angrie browe,
Till they bee quite exterpèd, root and bow;[214]
But when the righteous cry, the Lord doth heare them
And from all trubles absolutely cleare them;
God's present helpe the Lord['s own folk] doth finde,
And such Hee saues as are of humble minde.
The righteous into many trubles fall,
But God's sweet mercy brings them out of all;
Their very bones so keepe and count doth Hee,
As not one broken nor one lost, shall bee.
But some foule death shall on the wicked light,
And they which hate the just, shall perish quite;
But of his seruants, GOD the SAUIOUR is;
They trust in Him, their hope they cannot misse.

[Footnote 214: = 'bough.' G.]

PSALM XXXV.

Plead Thou my cause, O Lord my Advocate!
Against all those with whome I haue debate;
Fight against them that doe against mee fight,
Take up Thy shield, and helpe mee with Thy might;
Lift up Thy launce, stopp them which mee pursue,
Say to my soule, I am Thy SAUIOUR true;
Let shame on them which seeke my ruin light,
And with confusion turne them all to flight.
Let them bee like the dust before the winde,
With God's feirce angell followinge them behinde;
Set them in slipperie wayes, and darke withall,
And let God's Angell smite them as they fall;
For they have spred a nett and dig'd a pitt,
Euen without cause to catch my soule in it:
But in that pitt let them fall vnawares,
And bee entangled in their proper snares;
But thou my soule, whom God[215] thus guides from ill,
Rejoyce in Him, and His saluation still;
My bones shall say, Lord who is like to Thee?
Who poore weake men from their strong foe dost free:
False witnesses arose with oathes untrue,
And chargèd mee with things I neuer knew;
They to my greife did ill for good requite,
And recompenc't my kindnes with dispight;
Yet in their sicknes I did sackcloth weare,[216]
And fast and pray with many a secret teare;
I could not more for friend or brother mourne,
Or if my mother to her graue were borne:
But in my woe they made great mirth and glee,
The very abjects mockt and mowde[217] at mee;
Base flatterers and jesters came withall,
[And] gnasht their teeth to show their bitter gall.
How long shall this bee Lord? my soule withdraw
From these men's wrongs, and from the lyon's jaw:
Soe in Thy CHURCH shall I my thankes proclaime,
And in our Great Assembly praise Thy name;
Let not my foes trihumph[218] on mee againe,
Nor with their mockinge eyes shew their disdaine;
They meet and parte, but peace they doe not seeke
But to supplant the peaceable and meeke;
They gape and drawe their mouthes in scornefull wise,
And cry, fie, fie, wee sawe it with our eyes.
But Thou their deed (O Lord!) dost alsoe see;
Then bee not silent soe, nor farr from mee.
Awake, stand up O GOD and LORD OF MIGHT,
Auenge my quarrell, judge my cause aright;
To Thy DOOME rather lett mee fall or stand
Then subject bee to their insultinge hand;
Then they should say, soe, soe, these things goe right,
We haue our will, and haue deuour'd him quite.
Shame bee to them that joy in my mischance,
And which to cast mee downe themselues aduance;
Let them bee glad that my wellwishers bee,
And blesse the Lord that hath soe blessèd mee.
As for my tongue it shall sett forth Thy praise,
And celebrate Thy justice all my dayes.

[Footnote 215: Written with a small 'g': the Scribe varies much in this. We have given the capital uniformly in Divine names, nouns and pronouns. G.]

[Footnote 216: 'Ware' written and erased. G.]

[Footnote 217: = to wry the mouth. G.]

[Footnote 218: Cf. Psalm xviii, l. 8. G.]

PSALM XXXVI.

The wicked man's bould sinnes my heart doe tell,
Noe feare of God before his eyes doth dwell;
Yet flattereth hee himselfe in his owne sight,
Untill his hatefull deeds bee brought to light;
His words are lies, and most deceiptfull too,
He leaues of[f] quite all honest deeds to doe;
Hee on his bed doth nought but mischeife muse,
Hee shunns noe ill and noe good way doth choose;
Thy mercie Lord doth to the heauens extend,
Thy faithfullnes doth to the CLOUDES assend;
Thy justice stedfast as a MOUNTAINE is,
Thy JUDGEMENTS deepe as is the great Abisse;
Thy noble mercirs saue all liueinge thinges,
The sonnes of men creepe underneath _Thy_ winges:
With Thy great plenty they are fedd at will,
And of Thy pleasure's streame they drinke their fill;
For euen the well of life remaines with Thee,
And in Thy glorious light wee light shall see;
To them that know Thee, Lord, bee loveinge still,
And just to them whose heart intends noe ill;
Let not the foot of pride tread on my Crowne
Nor the hand of the vngodly cast mee downe:
False are the wicked in their slippery wayes,
And haue no power againe themselues to raise.

PSALM XXXVII.

If ill men prosper doe not Thou repine,
Nor enuy them though they[219] in glory shyne;
For as the grasse they shall be mowen away,
And as greene hearbes shall turne to withered hay:
Trust thou in God and still bee doinge good,
And thou shalt neuer want noe house nor food;
Delight in Him, Hee shall to thee jmparte,
The full desires and wishes of Thy heart;
On Him rely, to Him thy way commend,
And Hee shall bringe it to a blessed end;
Thine vpright light shall shine like the morninge light;
And Thy just dealinge like the NOONE-day bright;
Bee still and frett not, but God's leasure stay
Though wicked men doe prosper in their way;
Suppresse Thine anger, let offences die,
Lest thou be mouèd to offend thereby;
Expect a while, obserue what will befall;
Th' ungodly shall bee gon, their place and all.
The Lord shall root out sinners out of hand,
When good men and their heires shall hould their Land.
Meeke persons shall enjoy the earthe's encrease,
And shall abound in plentie and in peace;
Against the just the wicked haue combin'd,
And in dispight their teeth at them they grinde;
But God with scorne behoulds them from the skie,
For that Hee sees their day of ruin nigh;
The vngodly drawes his sword and bends his bowe
To slay the just, the weake to ouerthrowe:
But his bent bowe shall breake and make him start,
And his owne sword shall peirce his wicked heart;
That little which the just enioyes with peace,
'Tis better then th' ungodlie's great encrease;
For th' armes of jmpious men the LORD will breake,
And giue the righteous strength when they are weake;
The just man's dayes the LORD doth know and see,
That his inheritance shall endlessse bee;
The tymes of danger shall not him confound,
And in the dayes of dearth, hee shall abound;
Thy foes O Lord, shall perish and consume
Like fatt of lambes, and vanish into fume;
Th' ungodly want and borrow, but repay not
The good men frankly giue, [and] yet decay not;
Their seat is firme whom God hath best belou'd
But such as Hee doth[220] curse shall bee remou'd.
The good man's goings soe directeth Hee
As it most pleasinge to Himselfe may bee;
Oft falls the just, yet is not cast away,
For God's owne hand is his support and stay;
Though I am ould, the just man or his seed
I neuer sawe forsaken or in need;
Hee doth giue daily almes, and frankly lend,
Which makes his offspringe blessèd in the end;
Shun to doe ill, bee euer doinge well,
And euermore thou shalt in safety dwell;
The LORD who loueth right, forsaketh neuer,
Those that are His, but keepeth them for euer;
His children Hee correcteth now and then,
But roots out quite the race of wicked men.
As long as HEAUEN shall moue and Earth shall stand,
The righteous men inherit shall the Land;
The just man's mouth is wisedome's flowinge well,
His tongue, of truth and judgement loues to tell;
And in his heart the lawe of God doth bide,
Which makes him walke vpright and neuer slide;
The wicked sees the just with enuious eye,
And lies in waite to wound him mortally;
But God will neuer leaue him to his hands,
Nor him condemne when hee in judgement stands:
Then wait thou on the Lord, and keepe His way,
Hee shall thy patience with promotion pay;
Thy dwellinge in the Land shall stablisht bee,
When thou the fall shalt of the wicked see.
The vngodly in great power myselfe haue seene,
Soe that he flourisht like a bay-tree greene;
But soone's[221] I passèd by, and gon was hee,
His place I sought, but noe where could it see;
Keepe a cleare conscience, right and truth intend,
For that brings peace and comfort in the end;
When sinners shall at once together fall,
And in the end shall be extèrpèd all;
But good mens' safety doth from God proceed,
Who is their strength in truble, helpe at need;
Against the wicked Hee assists the just,
And recues them, because in Him they trust.

[Footnote 219: Miswritten 'thou' in the MS. G.]

[Footnote 220: 'Shall' written and erased. G.]

[Footnote 221: Another example of 'e' before 'es' as _ante_. G.]

PSALM XXXVIII.

If for my sinnes Thine anger kindled bee,
Lord! let not then Thy justice chastise mee;
Thine arrowes fixèd in my fleshe doe stand,
I feele the pressure of Thy heauie hand;
I haue noe health Thine anger is soe much,
My bones noe rest; my greiuous synne is such,
My wickednes doth mount aboue my head
And fallinge presse mee like a load of lead;
My ulcers are corrupted and doe smell,
Caus'd by my folly, which I blush to tell.
I am with greife soe broken and soe torne,
As I all day in heart and habit mourne.
My loynes are fillèd with a sore desease,
Noe parte of all my bodie feeleth ease;
I am soe faint, soe feeble, and soe sore,
As paine and anguish make mee crie and roare;
Thou Lord! the longings of my heart dost see,
My sighes and groanings are not hidd from Thee.
My heart doth pant, my sinewes faile mee quite,
My weepinge eyes haue lost their power of sight;
Meane while, my freinds and neighbours they looke on,
My nearest kinsmen farthest of[f] are gon:
And they which seeke my life haue layed their snares
And sett their trapps, to catch mee vnawares.
They that to doe mee mischeife lye in wait,
Doe plott and practise nothinge but deceit;
But as for mee in silent patience
I seemèd deafe and dumbe and voyde of sence;
As one whose eare admitts not any sound,
And in whose mouth there[222] is noe answeare found.
For on the Lord I euermore rely,
Though I stand mute, Thou shalt for mee replie:
My suite is that my foes may not preuaile
Who greatly joy to see my footinge faile;
For in a place of stumblinge sett am I,
My sad estate is still before mine eye;
But I with sorrow will confesse my synne,
And grieue that I offend my God therein;
And yet my foes do liue and grow in might,
They grow in numbers which do beare me spight.
They which doe ill for good, doe hate mee too,
Because I loue good turnes for ill to doe:
Lord leaue mee not nor from mee farr depart,
Saue mee with speede: for Thou my safety art.

[Footnote 222: Miswritten 'their.' G.]

PSALM XXXIX.

I said I will bee wary in my way;
Lest I offend in that my tongue should say,
I will my mouth as with a bridle hould,
While wicked men with enuy mee behould:
I dumb did stand and from all speech refraine,
Euen from good words, which was to mee a paine:
My heart was hott: while I such doubts did cast,
The fire brake out, and thus I spake at last:
'Lord of my life reueale to mee the end,
The period showe, to which my dayes doe tend'!
My life is but the measure of a spann,
Nought as to Thee, so vaine a thinge is man:
Who dreaminge walks, and toyles for wealth in vaine,
And doth not know to whome it shall remaine.
But what doe I expect? what is my hope!
Of my desires Thou art the only scope.
Lord! from my synnes Thine indignation turne
And make mee not to wicked fooles a scorne,
When Thou didst strike I silent was and dum[b]
Because I knewe the blowe from Thee did come.
Remoue Thy hand, withdrawe Thy plague from me
Wherewith my vitall spirrits consumèd bee:
Thy plagues for sinne doth like a moth consume
Man's beauty vaine, which is nought else but fume.
Lord! heare my prayer, and listen to my cries,
Let not Thy gracious eye my teares dispise:
For I am but Thy guest, and sojourne heare,
On earth a pilgrim as my fathers were;
O spare a little, and my strength restore
Before I goe from hence to come noe more.

PSALM XL.

Long on the Lord, I waited patiently,
Till He enclin'd His eare, and heard my cry:
Drew mee from out the pitt of mire and clay
Did sett mee on firme ground and guide my way:
Put in my mouth a new and joyfull song
Of thankes[223] and praise, that to Himselfe belong.
Of His great mercie, many shall haue sense,
And of the Lord haue feare and confidence.
Blest is the man who hath on God relide,
Not turninge vnto lies or worldly pride;
O Lord! Thy works of wonder, they are such
Thy care and loue to vsward is soe much,
They are soe great, they are soe numberlesse,
As if I would, I could not them expresse.
My sacrifice of meates Thou would'st not take,
But Thou mine eare didst peirce and open make.
Thou didst not aske burnt-offerings at my hand
Then LORD said I 'I come at Thy commaund;
Thy Booke eternall, doth of mee record,
That I should come to doe Thy will O Lord!
To doe Thy will, my heart is pleasèd well,
For in my heart Thy lawe doth euer dwell;
Thy truth I haue to all Thy people tould,
Therein Thou knowest my tongue I cannot hould:
Thy justice in my heart is not conceal'd,
Thy mercy to the world I haue reueal'd;
I haue not spar'd to make Thy bounty knowne,
But in the Great Assembly haue it showne.
Take not Thy wonted mercy Lord, from mee,
But let Thy goodnes still my safety bee.
My trubles numberlesse such hould haue tooke
On my weake soule, as vp I cannot looke:
My sinnes beinge more then[224] haires upon my head,
Make my heart faint and vitall spirrits dead:
But bee it Lord, Thy pleasure and Thy will,
With speed to saue and rescue mee from ill:
Bringe them to shame that would my life destroy,
Reproue them Lord, that wish my soule's annoy:
Let them bee left to scorne and pride, which blame
Which scorninge say to me, fie, fie, for shame.
But let all those that seeke their blisse, in Thee
Rejoyce and say, the Lord's name praisèd bee'.
For mee who am contemtible and poore,
The Lord takes care, and feeds mee euermore:
Thou Lord art my protection, and my aid,
Let not Thy gracious helpe bee long delay'd.

[Footnote 223: Another example of 'e' preceding the contraction 'es,' as also on line 5th below this, in 'workes,' and in Psalm xli, line 19th, 'evenings.' See prefatory Note to these Psalms. G.]

[Footnote 224: 'On my' written here and erased. G.]

PSALM XLI.

That man is blest who doth the poore regard;
In tymes of truble God shall him reward,
Prolong his life, and blesse him in the Land,
And free him from his foes' oppressing hand:
Shall comfort him, when sicke and weake hee lies,
And make his bedd till hee in health doe rise:
My synne hath giuen my soule a greiuous wound,
Apply Thy mercy Lord, and make it sound;
Thus speakes my foe of mee to show his spight,
'When shall his life and honnour perish quite'?
Hee vissitts mee, but with false heart and tongue
And thereof vaunts, his complices amonge:
Euen all my foes against mee doe conspire,
And with one minde my ruin doe desire;
'Let him,' say they of mee, 'in judgement fall
And when hee once is downe not rise at all.'
The freind I trusted, which did eat my bread,
Hath lifted vp his heele against my head.
Thy mercie's winges on mee O Lord display;
Raise mee againe, and I shall them repay.
By this I doe Thy gracious fauour see,
In that my foe doth not trihumph on mee.
Thou in my health uphouldst mee with Thy hand,
And in Thy presence I shall euer stand.
The name of JACOB'S GOD bee blessèd then,
From age to age for euermore: Amen.

PSALM XLII.

As for the streames the hunted hart doth bray,
Soe for God's grace my heart doth pant and pray.
My soule doth thirst (O God of life!) for Thee,
When shall I come Thy blessed[225] face to see?
My teares are all my food both night and day,
While 'where is now thy God?' the wicked say.
I powrèd out my hart, while thus I thought
And to God's House the multitude I brought:
With songs of praise and thankfullnes withall,
To celebrate the Lord's great festiuall:
Then why art thou my soule soe full of woe,
Vnquiet in thyselfe and vexèd soe?
O put thy trust in God and thankfull bee,
For his sweet helpe His presence yields to Thee.
My soule is greiu'd remembringe all the ill
I felt in JORDAN'S vale and HERMON hill.
One depth of sorrow doth to another call,
Thy waves O God haue ouergon mee all:
I prais'd at night God's bounty of the day,
And vnto Him that giues mee life did pray.
God of my strength, why hast Thou left mee soe,
With heauy hart oppressèd by my foe?
My foe doth cut my bones as with a sword,
While hee in scorne repeats this bitter word,
'Where is thy God?' his speech to mee is such:
'Where is thy God, of which thou talk'st soe much?'
But why art thou my soule dejected soe?
Why art thou trubled and soe full of woe?
Trust thou in God, and giue Him thankfull praise[226]
Who is Thy present helpe in all thy wayes.

[Footnote 225: 'Life from thee' written and erased. G.]

[Footnote 226: 'O put thy trust in God and thankfull bee' written and erased. G.]

PSALM XLIII.

Judge thou my[227] cause, [O God!] and right mee then,
Against vngodly and deceiptfull men.
O God, my strength, why sett'st Thou mee aside
And leau'st mee to my foes' oppressinge pride?
Send forth Thy light and truth and guide mee still,
In the right way to Thy most holy hill.
God of my[228] joy, before Thine Alter high,
My thankfull harte, my harpe shall justifie.
Then why art thou my soule dejected soe?
Why art thou trubled and soe full of woe?
O put thy trust in God and thankfull bee,
For that sweete aide His presence giues to thee.

[Footnote 227: 'Mee' miswritten. G.]

PSALM XLIV.

Lord! of Thy workes, our fathers haue vs tould,
Some in their dayes, and former times of ould;
How Thou hast rooted out the PAGAN race,
And Thy choice people planted in their place:
Who did not with their owne sword winne the Land,
Nor make the conquest with their proper hand;
But by Thine Arme, Thy fauour and Thy grace,
Thy countenance and brightnesse of Thy face;
Thou art my KINGE, O God, and royal Guide,
And Thou for JACOB'S safety dost prouide.
Wee through Thine aid our foes doe bouldly meet,
And by Thy vertue[229] cast them at our feet;
Therefore my trust I place not in my bowe,
Nor in my sword, to saue mee from my foe.
Thou only sau'st vs from our enimies,
Confoundinge them that doe against vs rise.
Wee boast and glory in our strength therefore,
And to Thy name singe praises euermore;
But now Thou standest of[f] and leau'st vs quite,
And dost not lead our armies out to fight;
Thou mak'st vs fly before our foes with feare,
While they from vs rich spoyles away doe beare;
Like sheepe, to feed them Thy poore flock is giuen,
Or scatterèd into seuerall NATIONS driuen.
Thyne owne deare people Thou dost sell for naught,
And setts on them noe price when they are bought;
Thou hast vs made vnto our NEIGHBOURS all,
An object of reproch and scorne withall:
To NATIONS which doe worship Idolls dumbe,
Wee are[230] a byword of contempt become;
All the day long my shame is in my sight,
Which makes me hide my face and shun the light,
Not able to endure the blasphemies
And scornes of my reuengefull enimies.
For all these ills wee doe not Thee forgett,
Thy blessed COUENANT wee renounce not yet.
Our hearts recede not from the LAWE deuine,
Nor doe our footsteps from Thy pathes declyne;
Though wee in dennes of dragons haue bene plac't,
And with death's fearefull shadowes[231] ouercast.
If wee the name of our true GOD forgett,
And Idolls false wee in His place doe sett,
Shall not Hee search [it] out, Whose eye doth see
The heart of man whose thoughts most trubled bee?
But for Thy cause LORD wee are martir'd still,
Like sheep which SLAUGHTER-MEN cull out to kill.
Up Lord! why dost Thou seeme to slumber thus?
Awake and bee not alwayes farr from vs:
Why hidest Thou from vs Thy blessed face,
Forgettinge our distresse and wretched case?
Our soules euen to the dust are humbled lowe,
Our prostrate bodies to the ground doe growe.
Arise and helpe vs Lord! defend vs still,
And saue vs for Thy mercie's sake from ill.

[Footnote 228: 'Thy' miswritten and corrected in a later hand. G.]

[Footnote 229: = Through the 'vertue' of Thy name, _i.e._, through Thee. The original is 'And in Thy name.' G.]

[Footnote 230: 'Become' written and erased. G.]

[Footnote 231: Spelled 'Shawdowes' and corrected. G.]

PSALM XLV.

My heart is mou'd to vtter some good thinge,
Which I entend to offer to the kinge.
My tougue shall bee the pen, and swiftly write
What in my heart deuotion doth endite.
Fairest of men, whose lipps with grace abound,
Whom with eternall blessings God hath crown'd;
Gird Thy sharp sword vpon Thine armèd thigh,
And shew Thyselfe in power and MAJESTIE.
Ride on with Thy great honnour prosperously,
Raigne and trihumph, and bee Thou mounted high,
Borne vp with justice, truth and meeknes' wings:
And Thy right hand shall teach Thee dreadfull things;
Thine arrowes sharpe, shall make Thy foes to fall,
Which Thou shalt shoote and peirce their hearts withall.
Eternall is Thy judgement-seat O God!
Thy scepter is a true directinge rod;
Right hast Thou lou'd and loth'st vnrighteousnes,
And therefore GOD Thy GOD Who doth Thee blesse,
Hath powr'd on Thee O PRINCE OF PRINCES best,
More oyle of gladnes then on all the rest:
Thy garments, which Thy person shall aray,
Brought out of Iuory wardrobes where they lay,
Of MYRRH, of ALLOES, and of CASHA smell;
Which odours doe refresh and please Thee well.
The queene, all cladd in gould at Thy right hand,
Daughters of Kings attendinge her, shall stand.
Attend faire daughter, listen and giue eare,
Forgett thy father's house and Cuntry deare.
Soe shall the Kinge take pleasure in thy beautie;
Hee is thy Lord, yield Him both loue and duty.
The TYRIAN virgins shall bringe guifts to thee,
And MERCHANTS rich, thy suppliants shall bee.
The daughter of the Kinge is rich without,
Her gownes embroidered all with gould about;
And yet within, shee is more glorious farr,
The jewells of her minde more precious are.
In finest dressinge, with the needle wrought,
Shee with her fellow virgins shall bee brought.
They shall with joy, O Kinge bee brought to Thee,
And in Thy princely COURTE receauvèd bee.
Thou in thy father's stead, O Bride shall gaine
Sonnes, which in sundry PROUINCES shall raigne.
Thee Lord, will I remember, all my dayes,
And all the world shall giue Thee endlesse praise.

PSALM XLVI.

GOD is our hope and strength, which neuer failes;
Our present helpe, when mischeife vs assailes.
Though the earth remouèd, and the mountaines were
Amid the Ocean cast, wee would not feare.
Though raginge seas a dreadfull noise doe make,
Thou[gh] floodes and tempestes [roaring,] hills doe shake,
There is a streame, which though it bee not great,
Makes glad God's CITTIE, and His holy seate.
God in her CENTER dwells, and makes His place
Unmoueable, by His preuentinge grace.
They were[232] enrag'd which heathen kingdomes sway,
But when God spake, the Earth did melt away.
The Lord of Hosts assists vs with His power,
And JACOB'S GOD to vs becomes a Tower.
Come, and behould what workes the Lord hath wrought,
And Hee, His foes hath to destruction brought.
In all the world Hee warr to peace doth turne,
The bowe and speare doe breake and chariotts burne;
Bee quiet then and still, and know that I
Am Lord of the world and God Most High:
The Lord of Hosts assists vs with His power,
And JACOB'S GOD to vs becomes a Tower.

[Footnote 232: Miswritten 'warr.' G.]

PSALM XLVII.

Clap hands yee people, with applause rejoyce,
Singe to the Lord with loud and chearfull voyce;
His throne is high, His judgement breedeth feare,
On all the earth Hee doth the SCEPTER beare.
Hee makes much people our commaund obey,
And many NATIONS at our feet doth lay;
And hath for vs an heritage in store,
Euen JACOB'S portion whom Hee lou'd before.
In glorious trihumph GOD is mounted high,
The Lord with trumpet's sound ascends the SKIE.
Singe, singe, vnto our God, vnto our Kinge,
All praises due, euen all due praises singe.
All KINGDOMES of the earth to Him belonge,
Singe wisely then, and vnderstand your song.
In all the heathen Hee doth raigne alone,
And sitts in judgment in His holy throne.
And heathen princes which were seuerd farr,
To Abraham's faithfull seed now joinèd are.
And God, Whose highnes doth the heauens transcend,
As with a buckler doth the earth defend.

PSALM XLVIII.

Great is the Lord and highly to bee praised,
In God's owne CITTIE, SYON hill is rays'd;
The beautie and the joy of all the Land,
The great king's CITTIE on the NORTH doth stand;
In his faire PALLACES God's name is knowne,
Where Hee doth cherish and protect His owne.
Though manie kings against her gathred bee,
They stand astonisht her great strength to see.
As when a woman doth in trauell fall,
A suddaine feare and tremblinge takes them all;
And God shall breake them though they bee combin'd,
As shipps are broken with an EASTERNE winde.
What wee haue heard, wee see Thou dost fullfill,
Thou GOD OF HOSTS vphoulds't Thy CITTIE still:
Amidst Thy Temple Lord, wee doe attend
Till Thou to vs Thy grace and fauour send.
Great is Thy name, O God, Thy praise noe lesse,
And Thy right hand is full of righteousnes.
Rejoyce O Sion, and your joyes renew,
Daughters of JUDAH,[233] for His judgements true.
About the walls of Sion walke yee round,
And tell the towers wherewith that forte is crownd;
Obserue her bulwarks and her turrets high,
And tell the same to your posterity.
This euer liuinge God our God is Hee,
And shall our Guide while we haue liuinge, bee.[234]

[Footnote 233: 'Judgement' written here and erased. G.]

[Footnote 234: A later hand substitutes another line, 'And while we live, our only guide shall be.' G.]

PSALM XLIX.

Heare this yee people, all yee people heare;
Listen to[235] mee and giue attentiue eare,
All yee that in the world residinge bee,
Both rich and poore, of high and low degree:
My mouth shall vtter, and my heart deuise,
Matters of greatest skill, profound and wise.
Mine eares to parables will I encline,
And singe vnto my harpe, of things deuine.
Then why should I in ill times fearfull bee,
When mischeife at my heeles doth follow mee.
Howbeit, some doe in their riches trust,
And glory in their wealth, which is but dust;
Yet non from death his brother's life can stay,
Nor vnto GOD for Him a ransome pay.
For it cost more the soule of man to saue,
Then all the wealth is worth, which worldlyngs haue.
Nor may men hope to liue on earth for euer,
Though long they last, ere soule and body seuer.
That fooles and wise men die alike they finde,
And vnto strangers leaue their wealth behinde.
Their houses yet they thinke shall euer stand,
They giue their proper names vnto their land;
Yet noe man can in honnour euer bee,
But as the brute beast dies, euen so does hee.
This is their follie, this their stumblinge wayes;
And yet the children doe their fathers praise.
[236]They are shut vp in graues as sheepe in folde,
And hungry Death feeds on their bodies cold,
The just shall rule them when the sunne doth rise,
With them their pride and beauty buried lies;
But God shall from Deathe's power my soule deliuer,
When Hee shall take it to Himselfe for euer.
Then let not feare and enuy thee surprize,
When thou seest men in wealth and honnour rise,
For to their graues they naught away shall beare,
Nor shall their glory waite vpon them there;
Yet they themselues thought happie all their dayes,
For him who helps himselfe others will praise:
As his forefathers all are gon before,
Soe shall hee die and see the light noe more.
Soe man on honnour little doth foresee,
But as brute beasts doe perish, soe dies hee.

[Footnote 235: 'Unto' written and the 'un' erased. G.]

PSALM L.

The Lord, the God of Gods, the world doth call,
Euen from the sunn's vprisinge to his fall;
From out of SION doth the Lord appeare,
And shewes the brightnes of His beauty cleare.
In trihumph, not in silence come shall Hee,
His vsher fire, His guard a storme shall bee.
Hee by His summons heauen and earth will call,
That Hee [may][237] judge at once his creatures all.
To Mee, saith Hee, let all My saints repaire,
Which worshipp Mee with sacrifice and prayer;
God's justice shall from heauen declarèd bee,
For Who is judge of all the world but Hee?
Harke ISRAELL! I am Thy God, giue eare;
I will against thee speake and witnes beare.
Not for the dailie taske of sacrifice,
Or that burnt-offerings shine not in Mine eyes:
I want them not, nor will I take at all,
Goat from thy fould or bullocke from thy stall;
All beasts are Mine within the forrest wide,
And cattle on a thousand hills beside;
I knowe all fowles which in the aire doe fly,
And see all beasts which in the feild doe lye.
If I were hungrie would I begg of thee,
When all things in the world belong to Mee?
Art thou O man, soe simple as to thinke
That bulls' flesh is My meat, goats' blood My drinke?[238]

[Footnote 236: The MS. begins here with 'and': but is struck out. G.]

[Footnote 237: I have filled in 'may' as evidently overlooked, and as it is the word of the prose version: a later hand has written 'will' and another 'for' in the place of 'That.' G.]

[Footnote 238: The Manuscript thus far is in one handwriting: and since the prefatory Note to these Psalms was written, I have discovered among the Harleian MSS. a very remarkable document by Sir John Davies, viz. his "Plea spoken at the Bar of the House of Lords" on "the King's power to impose Ship-money," (126. B 10-4266) and it is _identically the same holograph with that of these Fifty Psalms_, presenting precisely the same forms and contractions throughout. So that the Scribe of the one must have been the Scribe of the other: no doubt one of Sir John's Secretaries or 'men,' as he himself calls them. I shall give above important historical Paper--which never has been published, or even referred to, so far as I am aware--in my edition of DAVIES' Prose Works. Meanwhile I need not point out how valuable is this additional verification of the Davies authorship of our Manuscript--that is in so far as the Psalms up to L. are concerned. I stand in doubt of his authorship of the remainder; but see our Memorial-Introduction on this.

The Psalms that follow have interposed a half-page and one leaf, blank, and another leaf, filled with the secular Poems that succeed them: but it was deemed better to place all the Psalms together. These other Psalms have the same orthography: but the hand-writing is different and plainer. It will be noticed that Psalm L. _supra_, is imperfect, extending only to v. 13. G.]

PSALM LXVII.

Shew us Thy mercy, Lord, and grace diuine:
Turne Thy bright face that it on vs may shine,
That all the men on Earth enlight'ned so
Theire owne saluation and Thy wayes may know.
O let Thy people praise Thy blessed name,
And let all tongues and nations doe the same;
And let all mortall men rejoyce in this,
That God['s] their judge, and iust His iudgment, is.
O let Thy people praise Thy blessed name,
And let all tongues and nations doe the same:
Then shall the Earth[239] bringe forth a rich encrease,
And God shall blesse vs with a fruitfull peace.
Euen God shall bless vs and[240] His holy feare,
Possesse the harts of all men euery where.

[Footnote 239: 'Nations' written and erased. G.]

[Footnote 240: 'W^{th}' written and erased. G.]

PSALM XCI.