And kepeth his seate as lord and king in his eternitie the lord doth giue his people power in vertue to encrease The lord doth blesse his people with euerlastinge pease Beati quorum psalme .xxxii. God promiseth saluation to the repentaunt hart Of his mere mercy and hys grace not for the mans deserte THe man is blest whose wickednes the Lord hath cleane remitted And he whose sinne wretchednes is hid also and couered And blest is he to whom the Lorde imputeth not his sinne Which in his heart hath hid no guile nor fraude is found therein For whiles that I kept close my syn in silence and constrainte My bones did waste weare away with dayly mone and plainte For night and day thy hand on me so greuous was and smarte that al my bloud and humours moist to drinesse did conuerte But when I had confest my faultes and shroue me in thy sight My selfe accusing of my sinne thou diddest forgeue me quite Let euery good man pray therefore and thanke the Lorde in time and then the floudes of euil thoughtes shal haue no power of him When trouble and aduersitie do compasse me about Thou art my refuge and my ioye and thou doest ridde me out I shal enstruct thee saith the Lord how thou shalt walke and serue And bend mine eyes vpon thy wayes and so shal thee preserue Be not therefore so ignoraunt as is the asse and mule whose mouth without a raigne or bit ye can not guide or rule For many be the miseries that wicked men sustaine Yet vnto them that trust in God his goodnes doth remaine Be mery therefore in the Lorde ye iust lift vp your voyce And ye of pure and perfecte hearte be glad and eke reioyce Benedicam dominum psalme .xxiiii. The prophet Dauid prayseth god â–ª warning vs to forbeare From euil and exhorteth vs to liue in goodly feare I Wil geue laude and honour bothe vnto the Lorde alwayes And eke my mouth for euermore shal speake vnto his praise I do delight to laude the Lorde in soule and eke in voyce That simple men that suffer paine may here and so reioyce therfore se that ye magnifie With me the liuing Lorde And let vs now exalt his name together with one accorde For I may selfe besought the Lord he answere me againe And me deliuered incontinent from al my feare and paine Who so thei be that him beholde and shew him their vnrest He dasheth not their countenaunce but graunteth their request Who so in their afflictions vnto the Lorde doeth cal He heareth their suite without delaye and riddeth them out of thral The angel of the Lord doth pitche his tentes in euery place To saue al such as feare the Lorde that nothing them deface Se and consider wel therefore that god is good and iuste And thei bee blest that put in him their onely faith and trust Feare ye the Lord his holy ones aboue al earthly thing For thei that feare the liuing Lorde ars sure to lacke nothing the mightie and the rich shal want yea thrust and hunger much But as for them that feare the Lorde no lacke shal be to suche Come nere therefore my children dere and to my word giue eare I shal you teache the perfect waye how you the Lorde should feare Whoso woulde lead a blessed life must earnestly deuise His tonges and lippes from al deceit to kepe in any wise And turne his face from doing yl and do the godly dede Enquire for peate and quietnes and folow her with spede For why the eyes of god aboue vpon the iust are bent His eares likewise are giuen much to heare the innocent the lorde doeth frowne bende his browes vpon the wicked traine And cutteth away the memorie that should of them remaine But when the iust doth cal and crie the Lord doth heare them so That out of paine and miserie forthwith he letteth them go The Lorde is kinde and merciful to suche as be contrite He saueth also the sorowful the meke and poore in spirite Ful many be the miseries that righteous men do suffer But out of al aduersities the Lord doth them deliuer the lord doeth so preserue and kepe the bones of his alway That not so much as one of them doth perishe or decay the wicked die ful wretchedly thei seke none other boote And those that hate the righteous meÌ„ are pluckt vp by the roote But thei that feare the liuing lord the Lord doth saue them sounde And who that put their trust in him nothing shal them confounde Beatus qui intelligit psalme .xli. The Lorde wyl helpe that man agayn â–ª that helpeth poore and weake The passyon here is figured and resurrection eke THe man is blest that carefull is the nedie to consider For in the season perilous the Lord wil him deliuer the lord wil make him saue sound and happie in the lande And he wil not deliuer him into his enemies hand And in his bed when he lieth sicke the lorde wil him restore And thou O Lord wylt turne to helth his sickenes and his sore And in my sickenes thus say I haue mercy Lord on me And heale my soule whiche is ful wo that I offended thee Mine enemies gaue me yll report and thus of me they saye When shal he die that al his name may vanishe quite awaye And where as thei go in and out for to beholde and see thei muse much mischief in their harts what so their saiynges be Mine enemies runne against me stil together on a thronge To take a counsaile and conspire how thei may do me wronge agreing on a wicked worde and do determine plaine Be he destroyed with death say they he shal not rise agayne the man eke that I trusted most with me did vse deceyt Which eate with me the bread of life the same for me layde wayte Haue mercy Lord on me therefore and let me be preseruede That I may render vnto them the thinges thei haue deserude By this I know assuredly to bee beloued of thee WheÌ„ that mine enemies haue no cause to triumphe ouer me Because that I am innocent Lord strength me I thee praye And in thy presence poynte my place where I shal dwel for aye the Lorde the god of Israel be praysed now therefore Which hast bene euerlastinglye and shal be euermore Iudica me deus psalme .xliiii. The woful mindeful whome wicked men woulde with their yll infecte Dooeth call to god fâ—r light and truth his steppes for to directe IVdge and defende my cause O lord from those that euill be From wicked and deceitful men O Lord deliuer me For of my strength thou art the god why puttest me thee fro And why walke I so heauely oppressed with my fo Sende out thy light eke thy truth and leade me with thy grace Bring me into thy holy hill and to thy dwellyng place That I may to the altare go of god my ioye and chere And on my harpe giue
preserue that bringeth bondemen out of thral when wicked men dooe sterue When thou wentest out in wildernes thy maiestie did make The earth to quake the heauens drop the mount Sinay to shake thine heritage with droppes of grace ful liberally is weashte And when thy people mourne plaint by thee they be refreashte there shal thy congracion dwel where thou doest poinct the place Yea for the poore thou doest prepare of thine especial grace thou dooest commende thy worde O Lorde and giue thine holy spirite To al that preach thy ghospel pure thy glory and thy might â–ª Kinges with their hooftes shal fle away thy worde shal geue the foyle The housholde of the liuing Lord shal then deuide the spoile Then shal the churche be innocent and white as siluer fine And in good life more oriently then beaten golde shal shine When he that ruleth earthly kinges the earth shal order so Then shal the hil of Salmon be as white as milke or snowe Sens Basan is the hil of god and fruictful euery whit Then ye the membres of that hil why hope ye out of it Sens god is pleased wonders wel to dwel within this hil And therein doth determine plaine for to continue stil whose charettes his angels eke be thousandes on a thronge As in the mounte of Sinay the Lord is them among the Lord ascended vp on hye and led them bound with him That longe before in bondage laye of death and deadly sinne And as man receyued giftes and gaue them vnto men yea to his foes he gaue his spirite that god might dwel in them Now praised be the Lord therfore and dayly let vs prayse Our god that with his benefites doth prosper vs alwayes He is the god from whom alone saluacion commeth plaine He is the god by whome we scape from euerlasting paine this god wil wouÌ„d his enemies head and breake the heary scalpe Of those that in their wickednes continually do walke From Basan wil I bring saied he my people and my shepe And al mine owne as I haue dooen from daunger of the depe and make theÌ„ dip their fete in bloud of those that hate my name And dogges shal haue their toÌ„ges embrewed with licking of the same al men may see how thou O God thine enemies doest deface And how thou goest as god and king into thy holy place the singers go before with ioy the minstrels folow after And in the middes the damsels playe with timbrel and with taber Now in thy congregations O Israel praise the Lorde And from the bottom of thy harte geue thankes with one accorde Thy chiefe is litle Beniamin Thy counsaile princes bene Of Iuda and of zabulon and eke of Nepthalim As god hath geuen power to thee so Lord make firme and sure the thing that thou hast wrought in vs for euer to endure then for thy temples sake shal kings geue giftes to thee alwayes Greater then al Hierusalem of euerlasting prayse When thou shalt wast the wauering folke that rage against al ryght The stoute the nice the money men and those that loue to fighte Then out of Egipt shal they come that long haue been ful blinde Then Gentiles then shal reconcile to god their sinful minde then shal the kingdomes of the earth sing praise vnto the Lorde That ouer al doeth sit and sende to vs his mighty worde therfore the strength of Israel ascribe to god on hie Whose mightie power doth far extend aboue the cloudie skie Goddes holynes is wonderful and drad for euermore And he wil geue his people power praysed be god therefore Quoniam bonus psalm .lxxiii. He wondereth how the foes of God doth prosper and encrease And how the good and godly men doo seldome liue in peace HOw good is God to suche as be of pure and perfecte harte yet slip my fete away from him my steppes decline aparte and why because I fondly fal in enuie and disdayne That wicked men al thinges enioye without disease or paine and beare no yoke vpon their necke nor burthen on then backe And as for store of worldly goodes thei haue no want or lacke and free from al aduersitie when other men be shent And with the rest thei take no parte of plague or punishement whereby they be ful gloriously in pride so high extolde and in their wronge and violence bewrapt so manifolde that by aboundaunce of their goods thei please their appetite and do al thinges accordinglye vnto their hartes delight al thinges are vile in their respect sauing themselues alone Thei bragge their mischief openly to make their glory knowen the heauen and the liuing Lorde thei care not to blaspheme and loke what thing thei talke or say the world doth wel esteme the flocke therefore of flatterers dooe furnishe vp their trayne For there thei be ful sure to sucke some profit and some gayne Tushe tush say thei to them selues is there a god aboue That knoweth and suffereth al this il and wil not vs reproue Lo ye maye see howe wicked men in riches stil encrease Rewarded wel with worldly goodes and liue in rest and peace Then why doe I from wickednes my phantasie refraine And wash my handes with innoceÌ„tes and clease my hart in vayne and suffer scourges euery daye as subiect to al blame And euery morninge from my youth sustaine rebuke and shame And I had almost said as they mislikyng mine estate But that I should thy children iudge as folke vnfortunate then I be thought me howe I might this matter vnderstande But yet the labour was to great for me to take in hande Until the time I went into thy holy place and then I vnderstode right perfectly the ende of al these men And namely how thou settest them vpon a slippery place And at thy pleasure thy wyl thou doest them al deface then lord how sone do thei consume and fearefully decaye Much like a dreme wheÌ„ one awaketh the ymage passeth awaye Thus greued was hert ful sore my minde was much opprest So fonde was I and ignoraunte and in thy sight a beast Yet neâ—â—rthelesse by my right hand thou holdest me alwaies fast And with thy counsaile dost me guide to glory at the last What place is there prepared then for me in heauen aboue There is nothing in earth like theâ— that I desier or loue My flesh and ek my hart do feare but god doth faile me neuer For of my heart god is the strength my porcion eke for euer And lo al suche as thee forsake shal perishe euerychone And those that trust in any thing sauing in thee alone Attendite psalme lxxviii The couenaunt and the wonderous workes of god in Israel And howe he troubled them with plagues and yet howe oft they fell â–ª ATtende my people to my lawe and to my wordes encline My mouth shal speake strauÌ„ge parables and sentences diuine which we our selfes haue hard sene euen of our fathers olde and whiâ—h for our enstruction our fathers
his heritage thâ— yoÌ„ge men wer deuoured with fier maides had no mariage and with the sword the priestes also did perishe euerychone And not a widowe left a liue theyr faulte for to bemone And then the Lord began to wake like one that slepte a tyme Or like a souldiour that had been refreshed wel with wyne with emerauldes in the hinder partes he strake his enemies al And put them then vnto a shame that was perpetual Then he the tent and tabernacle of Ioseph did refuse As for the tribe of Ephraim he would in no wise chuse But chose the tribe of Iuda where as he thought to dwel Euen the mount of Syon which he did loue so wel Whereas he did his temple buylde both sumpteouslye and sure Like to the grouÌ„d which he had made for euer to endure Then chose he Dauid him to serue hys people for to kepe Which he toke vp and brought away euen from the foldes of shepe As he did folow the ewes with yong the Lord did hym auaunce To fede his people of Israel and his enheritaunce Then Dauid with a faithful hart hys flocke and charge did feede And prudently with al his power did gouerne them in dede Benedic anima mea Psalm lxxiiii To god for all his benefites we render thankes eche one Who knoweth the frayletie of vs all and helpeth vs alone MY soule giue laude vnto y e lorde my spirite shal do the same And al the secretes of my harte prayse ye hys holy name geue thanks to god for al his giftes shew not your self vnkinde And suffer not his benefites to slippe out thy minde That gaue the pardon for thy syn and thee restored againe For al thy weake and frayle disease and healed thee of thy paine that did redeme thy life from death from which thou couldest not flee His mercy and compassion both he did extende to thee that filled with goodnes thy desyre and did prolonge thy youth Like as the Eagle casteth her byl wherby her age reneweth the Lord with iustice doth reuenge al such as be opprest The pacience of the perfect man is tourned to the best His waies his coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes to Moyses he did showe His counsels eke with his consentes the Israelytes do knowe the Lord is kynd and mercyful when synners do hym greue The slowest to conceyue a wrath and redyest to forgeue He chydeth not vs continually though we be ful of strife Nor kepe our faultes in memorie for al our synneful lyfe Nor yet according to our synnes the Lord doth vs regarde Nor ofter our iniquities he doth vs not rewarde But as the space is woÌ„derous great twixt earth and heauen aboue So is his goodnes much more large to them that doo hym loue He doth remoue our synnes from vs and our offences al As farre as is the Sunne rysyng ful distaunce from hys fal And loke what pitie parentes dere vnto theyr chyldren beare Lyke pitie beareth the Lord to suche as worship hym in feare The lord that made vs knoweth our shape our moulde and fashion iust How weake and fraile our nature is and how we be but dust And how the tyme of mortal men is lyke the witheryng haye Or lyke the floure ryght fayre in field that fadeth ful soone awaye Whose glosse and beautye stormye wyndes do vtterly disgrace And make that after theyr assaultes such blossomes haue no place But yet the goodnes of the Lorde wyth hys shal euer shal euer stande Theyr childrens children doe receyue his righteousnes at hande That thei might kepe their promises wyth al theyr whole desier And not forget to do the thyng that he dyd them requyre The heauens high are made y e seat and fote stole of the Lord And by hys power Imperyal he gouerneth al the worlde ye angels and vertuous men laude ye the Lorde I say That ye maye both fulfyl his hestes and to hys wordes obaye His host and eke his ministers cease not to laude him stil And ye also that execute hys pleasure and hys wyl Let al youre workes in euery place geue laude vnto the Lorde My hart my minde and eke my soule shal therevnto accorde Ad dominum cum psalme cxx The good men crye and much lament that they so longe doo dwell In companye of carnal men â–ª the sonnes of Ismael IN trouble and in thral Vnto the Lord I cal And he doth me comforte Delyuer me I say From lyers lyppes alwaye And tonge of false reporte How hurtful is the thyng Or els how doth it styng The tonge of such a lyer It hurteth no lesse I wene Then arrowes sharpe and kene Of hote consumynge fyre alas to longe I dwel Wyth the sonne of Ismael That Cedar is to name By whome the folke elect and al of Isaackes secte are put open shame Wyth them that dyd peace haâ—e I came a peace to make and set a quiet lyfe But when my wordes were tolde Causelesse I was controlde By them that woulde haue stryfe Ad te leâ—â—â—i psalme cxxiii The poore in spirite wayte for the Lorde tyll they some grace attayne The proude and wealthy Pharisâ—â—â— the symple folke disdayne O Lord that heauen doest possesse I lift vp mine eyes to thee Euen as she seruaunt lifteth his his maisters handes to see As handmaids watch their maistees hands some grace for to atcheue So we beholde the Lord or God til he do vs forgeue Lord graunt vs thy compassion and mercy in thy sightâ— For we be filled and ouercome with hatred and despight Our mindes be sluffed with greate rebuke the rich and worldly wise Do make of vs their mocking storke the proude doo vs despise Beati omnes psalme .cxxxviii. God blesseth with his benefites â–ª the mâ—n and eke the wife That in his wayes doe rightly walke and feare him al their life BLessed art thou that fearest god and walkest his waye For of thy labour thou shalt eat happye arte thou I saye Like fruitful vines on thy house sides so doth thy wife sprynge out Thy children stand like oliue buddes thy table rounde aboute Thus art thou blest that fearest god and he shal let thee see The promised Ierusalem and his felicitie Thou shalt thy childres childreÌ„ see to thy great ioyes encrease Full quietly in Israel to passe their tyme in peace FINIS ⧠Here endeth the Ppsalmes drawen into Engishe Metre by mayster Sterneholde To the Reader THou hast here gentle reader vnto the psalmes that were drawen into English metre by maister Sternehold .vii. mo adioyned not to th entent thei shuld be fathered on the dead maÌ„ and so through his estimation be the more highly estemed But to chiefely fill vp a place whiche elles shoulde haue bene voyde that the boke maye rise to his iuste volume And partlye for that thei are fruitful and comfortable vnto a christian minde Wherefore if thou good reader shalt accept and take this my doinge in good part I haue my heartes desyre herein Farewel I. H. Psalmes of Dauid
in metre Exaltabate domine psalme xxx The church the ghostly Israel Her Lord and God doth prayse Which from the dreade of death and hell Doeth her defende alwayes ALlaude and praise with hart and voyce O Lord I geue to thee Which wilt not see my foes reioyce Nor triumph ouer me O Lorde my god to thee I cride In al my paine and griefe Thou gauest an eare didst prouide To ease me with reliefe Of thy good wil thou hast cald back My soule from hel to saue Thou dost reliue when strength doth lacke To kepe me from the graue sing praise ye sainctes that proue se The goodnes of the Lorde In memorie of his maiestie Reioyse with one accorde For why his anger but a space Doth last and slake againe But yet the fauoure of his grace Foreuer doth remayne though grippes of grief panges ful sore do chaunge vs ouer night The lord to ioye shal vs restore Before the day be light When I enioyed the world at wil Thus would I boast and saye Tushe I am sure to fele none yll This welth shal not decaye For thou O Lord of thy good grace Hadst sent me strength and ayde But when thou turndst awai thy face My mind was sore dismayde Wherfore again yet I crie to thee O Lord of might My god with plaintes I did applie And prayed both day and night what gaine is in in bloud saide I yf death destroye my dayes Doeth dust declare thy maiestie Or yet thy trueth doth prayse ▪ wherefore my god some pitie take O Lord I thee desier Do not thus my soule forsake Of helpe I thee require then didst thou turne my griefe wo Vnto a chereful voyce The mourninge wede thou tokest me fro And madest me to reioyce wherefore my soule vncessauntlye Shal sing vnto thy praise My Lord my god to thee wil I Geue laude and thankes alwayes Exultate iusti psalme lx To prayse the lorde with ioy they ought which are accept through fayth God by hys worde eche thing hath wrought Al mens defence decayeth YE righteous in the Lord reioyce It is a semely sight That vpright men w t thankful voyce Should praise the Lord of might Praise ye the lord with harp song In psalmes and pleasaunt thinges With Lute and instrument among That soundeth oft enue stringes Sing to the Lord a song most newe With courage giue him praise For why his worde is euer trewe His workes and al his wayes To iudgement equitie and right He hath a great good wil And with his giftes he doth delight The earth throughout to fil For by the worde of god alone The heauens al were wrought Their hostes and powers euerichone His breath to passe hath brought the waters great gathered hath he On heapes within the shore And hid them in the depth to be As in an house of store· Al men on erth both least and most Feare ye the Lord his lawe Ye that inhabite in eche cost Dreade him and stand in awe what cōmaunded wrought it was At ones with present spede what he doeth wil is brought to pas with ful effect in dede The counsels of the nacions rude The Lord doth driue to nought He doth defeate the multitude Of their deuise and thought But his decrees continue stil thei neuer slake or swage The mocions of his minde and wil take place in euery age O blest are to whom the Lorde A god and guyde is knowen whō he doth chuse with mere accorde To take them as his owne the Lord from heauen cast his sight On mortal men by bearth Cōsidering from his seate of might The dwellers of the earth the lord i say whose hād hath wrought mans hart and doth it frame For he alone doth know the thought And working of the same A king that trusteth in his host Shal nought preuaile at length The man that of his might doth bost Shal fal for al his strength The heapes of horsemen eke shal fail their sturdie stedes shal sterue the strength of horse shal not preuaile the rider to preserue But lo the eyes of god are bent And watche to ayde the iuste with such as feare him to offende And on his goodnes trust that he from death and al distres May set their soules from dreade And if that darth the lande oppresse in hunger them to fede wherfore our soule doth stil depend On god our strength and stay He is the shielde vs to defende And driue al dartes away Our soule in god hath ioy and game Reioysing in his might For why in his most holy name We hope and much delight therfore let thy goodnes O Lorde Stil present with vs bee ▪ As we alwayes one accorde Doe only trust in thee Quem admodum desiderat psal xlii the faithful soule afflicted here Doth sigh complaine and crie Vnto the Lord for to drawe nere Whom wicked men defie Lyke as the hart doth breth braye the wel springes to obtaine So doth my soule desier alwaye with thee Lorde to remaine My soule doth thirst and would draw nere The liuing god of might O when shal I come and appere In presence of his sight the teares al times are my repast ▪ which from mine eyes do slide when wicked men crie out so faste where now is god their guyde For comfort this I cal to minde And stretch my strength abrode that with the holy I shal finde Health in the house of God Enioying with a ioyful voyce There ful quiet and rest As with a sort that do reioyce And celebrate a feast My soule why art thou sad sower why troublest me so sore trust in the lorde praise his power That doth thy health restore when tha◠my soule in me O Lord Doth fainte I thinke vpon The land of Iordane and recorde the litle hil Hermon One griefe another in doth cal As cloudes burst out their voyce the floudes of euils that doe fal Run ouer me with noyse But yet the Lorde of his goodnes Doth helpe at al assayes wherefore ech night I wil not cease The liuing god to prayse I am perswaded thus to say to him with pure pretence O Lord thou art my god and stay My rocke and my defence why do I then in pensiuenes Hanging the head thus walke while that mine enemies me opresse And vexe me with their talke ▪ For why thei pearse my inward parts with panges to be abhorde whē thei crie out w t stubburne hartes where is thy god thy Lorde ▪ so sone why dost thou faint quail◠My soule with paynes opprest w t thoughtes why dost thy self assaile So lore within thy brest trust in the lord thy god alwayes And thou the time shalt see to geue him thanks w t laude praise For health restorde to thee Quid gloriaris Psalm .iii. The wicked that the Lord despise And trust in worldlye strength With such as vse deceipt and lyes Shal be destroyed at length WHy doest thy tyrant