mightie it is God mightie in battayle 9 Lyft vp your heades O ye gates and be you lyft vp ye euerlastyng doores and the kyng of glorie shall enter in 10 Who is this kyng of glorie euen the God of hostes he is the kyng of glorie Selah The argument of the .xxv. Psalme ¶ Dauid afflicted with enemies feelyng the great burden of sinne namely of his youth prayeth God partly to delyuer hym partly to teache hym and to pardon his offences He setteth foorth the infinite goodnesse and felicitie which is assured to all them that feare God Finally he confesseth that all his trust is in God 1 I Lyft vp my soule vnto thee O God I put my trust in thee my Lorde let me not be confounded neither let myne enemies triumph ouer me 2 Yea let not all them that hope in thee be put to shame let them be put to shame who without a cause do trayterously transgresse 3 Make me to knowe thy wayes O God and teache me thy pathes leade me foorth in thy trueth and teache me for thou art the Lorde of my saluation I haue wayted for thee al the day long 4 Call to remembraunce O God thy tender mercies thy louyng kindnesse for they haue ben for euer 5 Oh remember not thou the sinnes and offences of my youth but accordyng to thy mercie euen of thy goodnesse O God remember me 6 Gratious and ryghteous is God therfore he wyll teache sinners in the way 7 He wyll guide the meke in iudgement and teache the humble his way 8 All the pathes of God are mercie and trueth vnto such as kepe his couenaunt and his testimonies 9 Pardon thou therfore for thy name sake O God my wickednesse for it is very great 10 What man is he that feareth God God wyll teache hym in the way that he shall choose 11 His soule shall rest all nyght at ease and his seede shall inherite the lande 12 The secrete of God is among them that feare hym and he wyll make knowen vnto them his couenaunt 13 Myne eyes be alwayes turned vnto God for he wyll take my feete out of the net 14 Turne thy face vnto me and haue mercie vpon me for I am desolate and in miserie 15 The sorowes of myne heart are encreased O bryng thou me out of my distresse 16 Loke thou vpon myne aduersitie and vpon my labour and forgeue me all my sinne 17 Consider myne enemies for they do multiplie and they beare a tirannous hate against me 18 O kepe my soule and deliuer me lest I shal be confounded for I haue put my trust in thee 19 Let integritie and vprighteous dealing kepe me safe for I haue wayted after thee 20 O God redeeme Israel out of all his aduersities The argument of the .xxvj. psalme ¶ Dauid offereth his cause for the whiche he was persecuted to be iudged of God protesting his innocencie partly in that he serued God with purenes of heart and vprightnes of life frequenting his temple and vsing his ceremonies partly also in that he hated all company of euill men whatsoeuer they were ¶ Of Dauid 1 IVdge thou me O God for I haue walked in my perfection my trustalso hath ben in God therfore I shall not fall 2 Examine me O God and proue me trye out my reynes and my heart 3 For thy louing kindnes is before mine eyes and I wyll walke in thy trueth 4 I haue not sit in company with vayne persons neither haue I entred once acquaintaunce with dissemblers 5 I haue hated the congregation of the malitious and I wyll not sit amongst the vngodly 6 I haue wasshed my handes in innocencie and so I haue gone about thine aulter O God 7 That in a publique confession I myght heare and set foorth all thy wonderous workes 8 O God I haue loued the habitation of thine house and the place wherethine honour dwelleth 9 O gather not my soule with sinners nor my life with bloodie men 10 In whose handes is wickednes and their right hande is full of gyftes 11 But as for me I wyll walke in my perfection O redeeme me and be mercyfull vnto me 12 My foote standeth vpon a playne grounde therfore I wyll blesse God in the congregations ¶ The argument of the .xxvij. psalme ¶ The prophete confesseth his boldnes courage and no feare at all that he had through God in extreame and perilous daungers Before al thinges he requireth that he may come into the temple with the godly for to sacrifice and to prayse God He prayeth also most earnestly for helpe at Gods hande being of all other forsaken 1 GOD is my lyght and saluation whom then shall I feare God is the strength of my life of whom then shall I be afraide 2 When the malitious approched neare vnto me for to eate vp my fleshe mine enemies and foes stumbled and fell 3 Though an hoast of men were layde in campe against me yet shall not mine heart be afraide and though there rose vp warre against me yet I wyll put my trust in this 4 I haue desired one thyng of God whiche once agayne I wyll earnestly require euen that I may dwell in the house of God all the dayes of my life to beholde the beautifulnes of God and to seeke it in his temple 5 For in the time of aduersitie he shall hide me in his tabernacle yea in the secrete place of his pauilion he shall hide me and set me vp vpon a rocke of stone 6 And nowe he shall lift vp my head aboue mine enemies rounde about me therfore I wyll offer in his tabernacle a sacrifice of great ioy I wyll sing and prayse God with psalmes 7 Hearken vnto my voyce O god when I crye vnto thee haue mercy vpon me and heare me 8 My heart hath sayde vnto thee accorcording * to this thy commaundement seeke ye my face thy face O God wyll I seeke 9 O hide not thou thy face from me nor cast thy seruaunt away in a displeasure thou hast ben my succour leaue me not neither forsake me O Lorde of my saluation 10 For my father and mother forsoke me and God did take me vp 11 Teache me thy way O God and leade me in a right path because of mine enemies 12 Deliuer me not into mine aduersaries handes for there are false witnesses rysen vp against me and such as speake wrong 13 If I had not beleued veryly to see the goodnes of God in the lande of the liuing their spite had kylled me 14 Attende thou therfore vpon God be of a good courage and he will comfort thine heart I say attende thou vpon God The argument of the .xxviii. psalme ¶ The prophete turning his face towardes the arke of God desireth that his prayers may be hearde that God would succour him and not suffer him to be oppressed of the wicked to whom vengeaunce is due he thanketh
better with me then nowe 8 And she dyd not knowe that I gaue her corne and wine and oyle and multiplied her siluer and golde which they bestowed on Baal 9 Therefore wyll I returne and take away my corne in the tyme thereof and my wine in the season thereof and fet agayne my wooll and my flaxe whiche I gaue her to couer her shame 10 And nowe wyll I discouer her shame euen in the sight of her louers and no man shall deliuer her out of my handes 11 Moreouer I wyll take away all her myrth her holy dayes her newe moones her Sabbathes and all her solempne feastes 12 I wyll destroy her vineyardes and figtrees whereof she sayde These are my rewardes that my louers haue geuen me I wyll make them as a wood and wylde beastes shall eate them vp 13 I wyll visite vpon her the dayes of Baal wherein she burned incense to hym and decked her selfe with eareringes and iewels she folowed her louers and forgate me saith the Lorde 14 Wherefore beholde I wyll allure her and bryng her into the wildernesse and speake frendly vnto her 15 From thence wyll I geue her her vineyardes agayne yea and the valley of Achor for an entry of hope and she shall sing there as in the dayes of her youth and as in the day when she came vp out of the lande of Egypt 16 And at that day saith the Lord thou shalt call me O my husbande and shalt call me no more Baal 17 For I wyll take away those names of Baal from her mouth yea she shall neuer remember their names any more 18 Then wyll I make a couenaunt for them with the beastes of the fielde with the foules of the ayre and with euery thing that creepeth vpon the earth As for bowe sworde and battayle I wyll destroy out of the lande and wyll make them to sleepe safely 19 And I wyll marry thee vnto myne owne selfe for euer yea euen to my selfe wyll I marry thee in righteousnes in iudgement in louing kindnesse and mercy 20 In faythfulnesse also wyll I marry thee vnto my selfe and thou shalt know the Lorde 21 At the same tyme wyll I shewe my selfe gratious vnto the heauens saith the Lorde and the heauens shall helpe the earth 22 And the earth shall helpe the corne wine and oyle and they shall helpe Iezrahel 23 And I wyll sowe her for my selfe in the earth and wyll haue mercy vpon her that had not obtayned mercy And to them whiche were not my people I wyll say Thou art my people and they shall say Thou art my God ¶ The .iii. Chapter 1 The Iewes shal be cast of for their idolatrie 5 Afterwarde they shall returne to the Lorde 1 THen sayd the Lorde to me Go yet and loue a woman beloued of her husbande and yet an adultresse according to the loue of the Lorde towarde the chyldren of Israel and yet they haue respect to straunge gods and loue the wine pottes 2 So I gat her for fifteene siluerlinges and for an homer and an halfe of barley 3 And sayde vnto her Thou shalt bide with me a long season thou shalt not play the harlot thou shalt be to no oother man and I wyll be so vnto thee 4 For the chyldren of Israel shall sit a great whyle without kyng without prince without sacrifice without image without Ephod and without Theraphim 5 But afterward the chyldren of Israel shal be conuerted and seeke the Lord their God and Dauid their kyng and in the latter dayes they shall worship the Lorde and his louing kindnesse ¶ The .iiij. Chapter A complaynt against the people and the priestes of Israel 1 HEare the worde of the Lorde O ye chyldren of Israel for the Lord hath a controuersie with the inhabitauntes of the lande for there is no trueth there is no mercy there is no knowledge of God in the lande 2 But swearing lying manslaughter theft and adulterie hath gotten the ouer hande and one bloodgiltinesse foloweth another 3 Therfore shall the lande mourne and all they that dwell therein shal be rooted out the beastes of the fielde the foules of the ayre and the fisshes in the sea shal be consumed 4 Yet let no man rebuke or reproue another for thy people are as they that are at controuersie with the priest 5 Therefore shalt thou fall in the day tyme and the prophete with thee in the night and I wyll bryng thy mother to destruction 6 My people perishe for lacke of knowledge because thou hast refused knowledge therfore wyll I refuse thee also so that thou shalt no more be my priest and forsomuche as thou hast forgotten the lawe of thy God I wyll also forget thy chyldren 7 The more they increased in multitude the more they sinned against me therfore wyll I chaunge their honour into shame 8 * They eate vp the sinnes of my people and encourage them in their wickednesse 9 Thus the priest is become lyke the people Wherfore I wyll punishe them for their wicked wayes and rewarde them according to their owne imaginations 10 They shal eate and not haue inough they haue vsed whordome but shall not prosper they haue forsaken the Lorde and not regarded him 11 Whordome wine and newe wine take the heart away 12 My people aske counsell at their stockes and their staffe teacheth them for the spirite of fornication hath caused them to go astray and they haue committed fornication against their God 13 They make sacrifices vpon the tops of the mountaines and burne their incense vpon the hilles yea vnder the okes poplars and elmes for there are good shadowes therfore your daughters are become harlots and your spouses haue broken their wedlocke 14 I wyll not punishe your daughters for beyng defiled and your spouses that became whoores seeing the fathers themselues haue medled with harlots and sacrificed with whoores but the people that wyll not vnderstande must be punished 15 Though thou Israel play the harlot yet let not Iuda sinne come not ye vnto Gilgal neither go ye to Bethauen neither sweare ye The Lorde liueth 16 For Israel is rebellious like an vnrulye heyffer nowe the Lorde wyll feede them as a lambe in a large place 17 Ephraim is become partaker of idols let hym alone 18 Their drunkennesse stinketh they haue committed whordome their rulers loue to say with shame Bryng ye 19 The winde hath bounde them vp in her winges and they shall be ashamed of their sacrifices ¶ The .v. Chapter 1 Against the priestes and rulers of Israel 13 The helpe of man is in vayne 1 O Ye priestes heare this take heede O thou housholde of Israel geue eare O thou house of the king for iudgement is against you because you are become as a snare on Mizphah and a spread net vpon the mount of Thabor 2 They kyll sacrifices by heapes and turne
and slue him and because I was sure that he coulde not liue after that he had fallen I toke the crowne that was vpon his head and the braselet that was on his arme and haue brought them hyther vnto my lorde 11 Then Dauid toke holde on his clothes and rent them and so did all the men that were with him 12 And they mourned and wept and fasted vntil euen for Saul and Ionathan his sonne for the people of the Lorde and for the house of Israel because they were ouerthrowen with the sworde 13 And Dauid sayd vnto the young man that brought him these tidings Whence art thou He aunswered I am the sonne of an aliaunt an Amakelite 14 And Dauid sayde vnto him Howe is it that thou wast not afrayde to lay thyne hande on the lordes annoynted to destroy him 15 And Dauid called one of his young mē and sayd Go to and fall vpon him And he smote him that he died 16 Then said Dauid vnto him Thy blood be vpon thyne owne head For thyne owne mouth hath testified against thee saying I haue slayne the lordes annoynted 17 And Dauid mourned with this lamentation ouer Saul and ouer Ionathan his sonne 18 Also he bad them teache the children of Iuda the vse of the bowe And beholde it is written in the booke of the righteous 19 O noble Israel he is slaine vpon thy hie places howe are the mightie ouerthrowen 20 Tell it not in Gath nor publishe it in the streates of Askalon lest the daughters of the Philistines reioyce and lest the daughters of the vncircumcised triumph 21 Ye mountaynes of Gilboa vpon you be neither deawe nor raine nor fieldes of offeringes For there the shield of the mightie is cast downe the shielde of Saul as though he had not ben annoynted with oyle 22 The bowe of Ionathan neuer turned backe neither did the sword of Saul returne emptie frō the blood of the slayne and from the fat of the mightie 23 Saul and Ionathan were louely and pleasaunt in their lyues and in their deathes they were not deuided They were swyfter then Egles and stronger then Lions 24 Ye daughters of Israel weepe ouer Saul which clothed you in scarlet with pleasures and hanged ornamentes of golde vpon your apparell 25 Howe were the mightie slayne in the middest of the battel O Ionathan thou wast slayne in thyne hye places 26 Wo is me for thee my brother Ionathan very kinde hast thou ben vnto me Thy loue to me was wonderful passing the loue of women 27 O how are the mightie ouerthrowen and the weapons of warre destroyed The .ii. Chapter 4 Dauid is annoynted king in Hebron 9 Abner maketh Isboseth king ouer Israel 15 The battell of the seruauntes of Dauid and Isboseth 32 The burial of Asahel 1 AFter this Dauid asked counsel at the lord saying Shall I go vp into any of the cities of Iuda And the Lorde sayd vnto him Go vp And Dauid said Whyther shall I go He aunswered Vnto Hebron 2 And so Dauid went thyther with his two wyues Ahinoam the Iezraelite Abigail Nabals wyfe the Carmelite 3 And the men that were with him did Dauid cary vp also euery man with his housholde And they dwelt in the townes of Hebron 4 And the men of Iuda came and there they annoynted Dauid kyng ouer the house of Iuda And they tolde Dauid saying It is the men of Iabes Gilead that buried Saul 5 And Dauid sent messengers vnto the men of Iabes Gilead and sayde vnto them Blessed are ye vnto the lord that ye haue shewed suche kindnesse vnto your lord Saul and haue buried him 6 And nowe the Lorde shewe mercy and trueth vnto you And I will do you also suche kindnes as ye haue done in this thing 7 Therfore nowe let your handes be strong and play ye the men For your maister Saul is dead and they that are of the house of Iuda haue annoynted me king ouer them 8 But Abner the sonne of Ner that was captayne of Sauls hoaste toke Isboseth the sonne of Saul and brought him to Mahanaim 9 And made him king ouer Gilead and ouer the Assurites and ouer Iezrael Ephraim Beniamin ouer all Israel 10 And Isboseth Sauls sonne was fourtie yeres olde when he began to raigne ouer Israel and raigned two yeres But the house of Iuda folowed Dauid 11 And the time whiche Dauid raigned in Hebron ouer the house of Iuda was seuen yeres and sixe monethes 12 And Abner the sonne of Ner and the seruauntes of Isboseth the sonne of Saul wēt out of Mahanaim to Gibeon 13 And Ioab the sonne of Zaruia and the seruauntes of Dauid went out and met one another by the poole of Gibeon And they sate downe the one on the one side of the poole and the other on the other side 14 And Abner sayde to Ioab Let the young men nowe aryse and play before vs. And Ioab sayde Let them aryse 15 Then there arose went ouer twelue of Beniamin by numbre which pertayned to Isboseth the sonne of Saul and twelue of the seruauntes of Dauid 16 And euery one caught his felowe by y e head thrust his sword in his felowes side and so they fell downe together Wherefore the place was called Helkath hazzurim which is in Gibeon 17 And there was an exceeding cruell battel that same day For Abner and the men of Israel fell before the seruauntes of Dauid 18 And there were three sonnes of Zaruia there Ioab Abisai and Asahel And Asahel was as light of foote as a wilde Roe 19 And Asahel folowed after Abner and in goyng he turned neither to the right hande nor to the left from Abner 20 Then Abner loked behynd him and sayde Art thou Asahel He aunswered Yea. 21 Abner sayd Turne thee either to the right hande or the left and catche one of the young men and take thee his weapons But Asahel woulde not depart from him 22 And Abner sayd agayne to Asahel Depart frō me Wherfore should I smite thee to the grounde and not be able to holde vp my face to Ioab thy brother 23 Howebeit when he woulde in no wyse depart Abner with the hynder ende of the speare smote him vnder the fyft ribbe that the speare came out behinde him that he fell downe in the same place and died there And as many as came to the place where Asahel fell downe and died stoode still 24 Ioab also and Abisai pursued after Abner And the sunne went downe when they were come to the hil Amma that lyeth before Giah by the way of the wildernesse of Gibeon 25 And the children of Beniamin gathered them selues together after Abner were on a heape and stoode on the top of an hill 26 Then Abner called to Ioab and said Shall the sword deuour for euer Knowest thou not that it wil be bitternesse in the
So be they pronounced both reader and hearer by the holy prophete Ieremie accursed which do the worke of God fraudulently and negligently From the which he defende vs who bought vs with his most precious blood To whom with the father and the holy ghost be all honour and glorie Amen ¶ A Preface into the Byble folowyng OF all the sentences pronounced by our sauiour Christe in his whole doctrine none is more serious or more worthy to be borne in remembraunce then that which he spake openly in his Gospell saying Scrutamini scripturas quia vos putatis in ipsis vitam eternam â—abere et ille sunt quae testimonium perbibent de me Search ye the scriptures for in them ye thinke to haue eternall lyfe and those they be which beare witnes of me These wordes were first spoken vnto the Iewes by our sauiour but by hym in his doctrine ment to all for they concerne all of what nation of what tongue of what profession soeuer any man be For to all belongeth it to be called vnto eternall life so many as by the witnes of the scriptures desire to finde eternall life No man woman or chylde is excluded from this saluation and therfore to euery of them is this spokeÌ„ proportionally yet and in their degrees and ages and as the reason and congruitie of their vocation may aske For not so lyeth it in charge to the worldly artificer to searche or to any other priuate man so exquisitely to studie as it lyeth to the charge of the publike teacher to searche in the scriptures to be the more able to walke in the house of God which is the Church of the lyuyng God the pyller and ground of trueth to the establishing of the true doctrine of the same and to the impugnyng of the false And though whatsoeuer difference there may be betwixt the preacher in office and the auditor in his vocation yet to both it is said Search ye the scriptures whereby ye may fynde eternall lyfe and gather witnesses of that saluation which is in Christe Iesus our Lorde For although the prophete of God Moyses byddeth the kyng when he is once set in the throne of his kingdome to describe before his eyes the volume of Gods lawe according to the example whiche he shoulde receaue of the priestes of the leuiticall tribe to haue it with him and to reade in it all the dayes of his life to th ende that he might learne to feare the Lorde his God and to obserue his lawes that his heart be not aduaunced in pryde ouer his brethren not to swarue eyther on the ryght hande or on the left yet the reason of this precept for that it concerneth all men may reasonably be thought to be commaunded to all men and all men may take it to be spoken to them selfe in their degree Though almightie God him selfe spake to his captayne Iosue in precise wordes Non recedat volumen legis huius ab ore tuo sed meditaberis in eo diebus ac noctibus c. Let not the volume of this booke depart from thy mouth but muse therin both dayes and nyghtes that thou mayest kepe and perfourme all thinges which be written in it that thou mayest direct well thy way and vnderstande the same yet aswell spake almightie God this precept to all his people in the directions of their wayes to himwarde as he ment it to Iosue For that he hath care of all he accepteth no mans person his wyll is that all men shoulde be saued his wyll is that all men shoulde come to the way of trueth Howe coulde this be more conueniently declared by God to man then when Christe his welbeloued sonne our most louing sauiour the way the trueth and the lyfe of vs all dyd byd vs openly Searche the scriptures assuring vs herein to finde eternall life to finde full testification of all his graces and benefites towardes vs in the treasure thereof Therefore it is most conuenient that we shoulde all suppose that Christe spake to vs all in this his precept of searching the scriptures If this celestiall doctour so aucthorised by the father of heauen and commaunded as his only sonne to be hearde of vs all biddeth vs busily to Search the scriptures of what spirite can it proceede to forbid the reading and studiyng of the scriptures If the grosse Iewes vsed to reade them as some men thinke that our sauiour Christ dyd shew by such kynd of speaking their vsage with their opinion they had therin to finde eternall lyfe and were not of Christe rebuked or disproued either for their searching or for the opinion they had howe superstitiously or superficially soeuer some of them vsed to expende the scriptures Howe muche more vnaduisedly do suche as bost them selfe to be either Christes vicars or be of his garde to lothe christen men from reading by their couert slaunderous reproches of the scriptures or in their aucthoritie by lawe or statute to contract this libertie of studiyng the worde of eternall saluation Christe calleth them not onlye to the single readyng of scriptures saith Chrisostome but sendeth them to the exquisite searching of them for in them is eternall lyfe to be founde and they be saith hym selfe the witnesse of me for they declare out his office they commende his beneuolence towardes vs they recorde his whole workes wrought for vs to our saluation Antechriste therefore he must be that vnder whatsoeuer colour woulde geue contrary precept or counsayle to that whiche Christe dyd geue vnto vs. Very litle do they resemble Christes louing spirite mouing vs to searche for our comfort that wyll discourage vs from suche searching or that woulde wishe ignoraunce and forgetfulnesse of his benefite to raigne in vs so that they might by our ignoraunce raigne the more frankly in our consciences to the daunger of our saluation VVho can take the light from vs in this miserable vale of blindnesse and meane not to haue vs stumble in the pathes of perdition to the ruine of our soules who wyll enuie vs this bread of lyfe prepared and set on the table for our eternall sustenaunce and meane not to famishe vs or in steede thereof with their corrupt traditions and doctrines of man to infect vs All the whole scripture saith the holy apostle Saint Paul inspired from God aboue is profitable to teache to reproue to refourme to instruct in righteousnesse that the man of God may be sounde and perfect instructed to euery good worke Searche therefore good reader on Gods name as Christe byddeth thee the holy scripture wherein thou mayest finde thy saluation Let not the volume of this booke by Gods owne warrant depart from thee but occupie thy selfe therein in the whole iourney of this thy worldly pilgrimage to vnderstande thy way howe to walke ryghtly before hym all the dayes of thy lyfe Remember that the prophete Dauid pronounceth hym the blessed man whiche wyll muse in
and prayseth God for his deliuerie 1 VNto thee I crye O God my strength make not as though thou were deafe at me lest if thou holdest thy peace I become like them that go downe into the graue 2 Heare the voyce of my humble petitions when I crye vnto thee when I holde vp my handes towarde thy holy place where thy arke is 3 Take me not away with the vngodlye and with the workers of iniquitie whiche speake of peace to their neighbours but mischiefe is in their heartes 4 Rewarde them accordyng to their deedes and according to the wickednes of their owne inuentions 5 Recompence them after the worke of their handes pay them home that they haue deserued 6 For they geue not their minde to vnderstande the doynges of God and the worke of his handes therefore he wyll breake them downe and not buylde them vp 7 Blessed be God for he hath hearde the voyce of mine humble petitions 8 God is my strength and my shielde my heart hath trusted in him and I am helped therefore my heart skippeth for ioy and in my song I wyll prayse hym 9 God is their strength and the strength that saueth his annoynted 10 O saue thy people and geue thy blessing vnto thine inheritaunce feede them and exalt them for euermore The argument of the .xxix. psalme ¶ The prophete exhorteth princes and rulers of this worlde to acknowledge Gods glory and power whiche appeareth euen in thundring rayne and tempestes 1 ATtribute vnto God O ye sonnes of princes attribute vnto God glory and strength 2 Geue to God glory due vnto his name worship God with holy honour 3 The voyce of God is aboue waters it is the Lorde of glory that thundreth it is God that ruleth the sea 4 The voyce of God is with power the voyce of God is with honour 5 The voyce of God breaketh the Cedar trees yea God breaketh the Cedars of Libanus 6 And he maketh them to skip like a calfe Libanus also and Sirion like a young vnicorne 7 The voyce of God casteth out flambes of fire the voyce of God maketh the wyldernesse to tremble God maketh the wyldernesse of Cades to tremble 8 The voyce of God maketh Hindes to cast their calfe and maketh woods to * be bare therefore euery man setteth foorth his glory in his temple 9 God sitteth in the flud and God wil sit king for euer 10 God wyll geue strength vnto his people God wyll blesse his people in peace ¶ The argument of the .xxx. psalme ¶ Dauid deliuered from his enemies both thanketh and also prayseth God and inciteth other to do the same because Gods displeasure lasteth not long He thought his prosperitie woulde haue continued styll but visited with sicknes and aduersitie cryeth for helpe and prayseth God therefore ¶ A psalme whiche is a song of the dedication of the house of Dauid 1 I Wyll exalt thee O God for thou hast exalted me and hast not made my foes to triumph ouer me 2 O God my Lord I cryed vnto thee and thou hast healed me 3 Thou God hast raysed vp my soule from the graue thou hast preserued my life from them that go downe into y e pit 4 Sing psalmes vnto god ye his saintes and make your confession vnto the remembraunce of his holynes 5 For a litle short time passeth in his anger a life is spente in his good wyll at euening weeping shall begin the night but ioy commeth in the morning 6 And in my prosperitie I saide I shall neuer haue a fal thou God of thy goodnes hadst made my hyll so strong 7 Neuerthelesse when thou dydst turne thy face I was troubled then I cryed vnto thee O God then made I my humble prayers to thee my Lorde 8 Saying what profite is there in my blood when I go downe to the pit shal the dust geue thankes vnto thee or shall it declare thy trueth 9 Heare me O God and haue mercy vppon me O God be thou my helper 10 And foorth with thou hast turned my mourning into dauncing thou hast put of my sackcloth and gyrded me with gladnes 11 Therfore my glory shal sing psalmes vnto thee and not ceasse O God my Lorde I wyll prayse thee for euer The argument of the .xxxj. psalme ¶ Dauid brought into that distresse that he had no hope to escape cryeth to God he commendeth him selfe wholly to him he declareth the complaintes sorowes and afflictions whiche he felt in that daungerous time he prayeth for helpe he wisheth confusion to wicked liers he rehearseth what good thinges God hath prepared for them that feare him and put their trust in him he thanketh God for his goodnes towardes him he exhorteth all men to loue God and that continually It is thought that this psalme pertayneth to the storie 1. Sam. 23. ¶ To the chiefe musition a psalme of Dauid 1 IN thee O God I haue put my trust let me neuer be confounded deliuer me in thy righteousnes 2 Bowe downe thine eare to me make hast to deliuer me be vnto me a strong rocke and a house of defence that thou mayest saue me 3 For thou art my strong rocke and fortresse euen for thy name sake conduct me and direct me 4 Take me out of the net that they haue layde priuily for me for thou art my strength 5 Into thy hande I commende my spirite for thou hast redeemed me O God the Lorde of trueth 6 I haue hated them that obserue superstitious vanities and my trust hath ben in God 7 I wyll be glad and reioyce in thy louing kindnes for that thou hast considered my trouble and hast knowen my soule in aduersities 8 Thou hast not shut me vp into the hande of the enemie but hast set my feete in a large roome 9 Haue mercy vpon me O God for I am in distresse mine eye my soule and my belly be consumed for very heauinesse 10 For my life is wasted with sorow and mine eares with mourning my strength fayleth me because of mine iniquitie and my bones are putrified 11 I became a reprofe among al mine enemies but especially among my neighbours and they of mine acquaintaunce were afraide of me and they that dyd see me without conueyed them selues quickly fro me 12 I became cleane forgotten as a dead man out of minde I became like a broken vessell 13 For I haue hearde the villanie of the multitude and feare was on euery side me whyle they conspired together against me and toke their counsell to take away my life 14 But my hope hath ben in thee O God I haue sayd thou art my Lorde 15 My tune is in thy hande deliuer me from the hande of mine enemies and from them that persecute me 16 Cause thy countenaunce to shine vppon thy seruaunt saue me for thy mercies sake 17 Let me not be confounded O
sayde heare me lest that they shoulde triumph on me who auaunce them selues greatly agaynst me when my foote doth slyp 17 Because I am disposed to a haltyng and my sorowe is euer in my syght 18 Because I confesse my wickednesse and am sory for my sinne 19 But myne enemies lyuyng without payne are mightie they that hate me wrongfully are increased in number 20 They also that rewarde euyl for good are agaynst me because I folowe the thyng that is good 21 Forsake me not O God O my Lorde be not thou farre fro me 22 Haste thee to helpe me O Lorde my saluation ¶ The argument of the .xxxix. Psalme ¶ Dauid signifieth that in the anguishe of his sicknesse he woulde haue vttered no worde lest he should speake amisse in the presence of the vngodly He desireth to knowe the ende of his lyfe which is but short and vanitie He prayeth also that his sinnes may be pardoned and that his afflictions may be diminished ¶ To the chiefe musition Ieduthun a psalme of Dauid 1 I Sayde to my selfe I wyll take heede to my wayes that I offende not in my tongue I wyll kepe my mouth as it were with a brydell whylest the vngodly is in my syght 2 I became dumbe through scilence I helde my peace from speakyng of good wordes but the more was my sorowe increased 3 My heart was hotte within me and whyle I was thus musyng the fire kyndled and at the last I spake with my tongue 4 O God make me to knowe mine ende and the number of my dayes that I may be certified howe long I haue to lyue 5 Behold thou hast made my dayes as it were an hand breadth long mine age is euen as nothing before thee truely euery man is al together vanitie Selah 6 Truely man walketh in a vayne shadowe truely he and all his do disquiet them selues in vayne he heapeth vp riches can not tel who shal vse them 7 And nowe Lord what wayte I after truely my hope is euen in thee 8 Delyuer me from all my offences and make me not a rebuke vnto the foolishe 9 I became dumbe and opened not my mouth for it was thy doyng 10 Take thy plague away from me I am euen consumed by the meanes of thy heauy hande 11 Thou doest chasten man rebukyng him for sinne thou as a moth doest consume his excellencie for in very deede euery man is but vanitie Selah 12 Heare my prayer O God and geue eares to my crying holde not thy peace at my teares for I am a straūger with thee and a soiourner as all my fathers were 13 Oh spare me a litle that I may recouer my strength before I go hence and be no more seene ⧠The argument of the .xl. psalme ¶ Dauid commendeth hyghly Gods goodnesse for that he heareth those that put their trust in hym and delyuereth them out of all perilles and calamities He promiseth to geue hym selfe hereafter wholly to set foorth Gods glorie and prayeth for Gods helpe agaynst his enemies ¶ To the chiefe musition a psalme of Dauid 1 I Wayted paciently vpon God and he enclined vnto me his eare and heard my crying 2 He brought me also out of an horrible pyt out of the dirtie mire and set my feete vpon a rocke and directed my goynges 3 And he hath put a newe song in my mouth euen a thankesgeuyng vnto our Lorde 4 Many shall see it and feare and shall put their trust in God 5 Blessed is the man that hath set his hope in God and turned not vnto the proude and to such as decline to lyes 6 O God my Lord great are thy wonderous workes which thou hast done none can count in order thy benefites towarde vs yf I woulde declare them and speake of them they shoulde be mo then I am able to expresse 7 Thou wouldest haue no sacrifice or offeryng but thou hast opened myne eares thou hast not required burnt offerynges and sacrifice for sinne 8 Then sayde I lo I am come in the booke of thy lawe it is written of me that I shoulde fulfyll thy wyll O my God I am content to do it yea thy lawe is within the middest of my brest 9 I haue declared thy righteousnes in a great congregatiō lo I wil not refraine my lippes O God thou knowest it 10 I haue not hyd thy ryghteousnesse within my heart my talkyng hath ben of thy trueth and of thy saluation 11 I haue not concealed thy louyng mercie and trueth from the great congregation 12 Withdrawe not thou thy mercie from me O God let thy louyng kyndnesse and thy trueth alway preserue me 13 For innumerable troubles are come about me my sinnes haue taken such holde vpon me that I am not able to loke vp yea they are mo in number then the heere 's of my head my heart hath fayled me 14 O God let it be thy pleasure to deliuer me make haste O God to helpe me 15 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seke after my soule to destroy it let them be dryuen backwarde be put to rebuke that wyshe me euyll 16 Let them be desolate in recompence of their shame that say vnto me fye vpon thee fye vpon thee 17 Let all those that seeke thee be glad and ioyfull in thee and let such as loue thy saluation say alway God be magnified 18 As for me I am afflicted and needye but God careth for me thou art my ayde and delyuerer O my God make no long tarying The argument of the .xlj. psalme ¶ Dauid sheweth that they be happy who haue pitie on the afflicted He rehearseth his prayer made in his sicknesse to God He complayneth of fayned friendes and at the maliciousnesse of his enemies ¶ To the chiefe musition a psalme of Dauid 1 BLessed is he that considereth y e poore God wyll delyuer hym in the tyme of trouble 2 God wyll preserue hym kepe him aliue he shal be blessed vpon the earth and thou O God wylt not deliuer him into the wyll of his enemies 3 God wyll comfort hym when he lyeth sicke vpon his bed thou O God wylt turne vpside downe all his bed in his sicknesse 4 I sayde O God be mercifull vnto me heale my soule for I haue sinned agaynst thee 5 Myne enemies speake euyl of me whē shall he dye and his name perishe 6 But yf any of them came to visite me he spake vanitie his heart conceaued vngodlynesse within hym selfe when he came foorth a doores he vttered it 7 All they that hated me whispered together they imagined euyl agaynst me 8 They sayde some great mischiefe is lyghted vpon hym and he that lyeth sicke on his bed shall ryse vp no more 9 Yea besides this euen myne owne friende whom I trusted which dyd also eate of my bread hath kicked very much
vnderstande them and I shall lyue Coph 1 I Haue called with my whole heart heare me O God I wyll kepe thy statutes 2 I haue called vpon thee saue me and I wyll kepe thy testimonies 3 I haue preuented other in the dawnyng of the day and I cryed vnto thee for I geue earnest attendaunce vnto thy wordes 4 Myne eyes haue preuented the nyght watches that my study might be wholy in thy wordes 5 Heare my voyce accordyng to thy louing kindnesse make me to lyue O God after thy iudgementes 6 They that mynde to do an act of mischiefenesse do drawe nye vnto me they are farre from thy lawe 7 But thou art nye at hande O God and all thy coÌ„maundementes be trueth 8 As concernyng thy testimonies I haue knowen long since that thou hast made them to last for euer Resh 1 BEholde myne affliction deliuer me for I haue not forgotten thy lawe 2 Defende thou my cause redeeme me make me to lyue accordyng vnto thy worde 3 Saluation is farre from the vngodly for they study not thy statutes 4 Thy mercies be manifolde O God make me to liue accordyng to thy iudgementes 5 There be many that do persecute me and be myne aduersaries yet I do not swarue from thy testimonies 6 I sawe transgressours and I was greeued at the heart because they kept not thy lawe 7 Beholde howe I loue thy commaundementes quicken me O God accordyng to thy louyng kindnesse 8 The beginning of thy word is trueth and all the iudgementes of thy ryghteousnesse endure for euermore Shin 1 PRinces haue persecuted me without a cause but my heart hath stoode in awe of thy wordes 2 I am as glad of thy worde as he that fyndeth a great bootie 3 That which is false I hate and abhorre but thy lawe I do loue 4 I do prayse thee seuen tymes euery day for loue of the iudgementes of thy iustice 5 They that loue thy lawe shall haue great prosperitie and nothyng shall offende them 6 Lorde I haue wayted after thy saluation and I haue done thy commaundementes 7 My soule hath kept thy testimonies and I haue loued them exceedyngly 8 I haue kept thy commaundementes and testimonies for all my wayes are before thee Tau 1 LEt my crye O God approche neare vnto thy face make me to vnderstande euery thyng accordyng vnto thy worde 2 Let my supplication come before thee deliuer me accordyng to thy worde 3 My lippes shall powre out thy prayse when thou hast taught me thy statutes 4 My tongue shall syng of thy worde for all thy commaundementes are ryghteousnesse 5 Let thyne hande be redie for to ayde me for I haue chosen thy commaundementes 6 I haue longed for thy saluation O God and thy lawe is my whole delight 7 Let my soule lyue and it shall prayse thee and thy iudgementes shal be an ayde vnto me 8 I haue gone astray lyke a lost sheepe oh seke out thy seruaunt for I haue not forgotten thy commaundementes ¶ The argument of the .cxx. Psalme ¶ The prophete requesteth God for to deliuer him from such as do maliciously slaunder him with false reportes For by their meanes he esteemeth his life led with the Ismaelites and with the barbarous people of Arabia and not with Gods people ¶ A song of high degrees 1 WHen I was in trouble I called vpon God and he hearde me 2 Deliuer my soule O God from false lyppes from a deceiptful tongue 3 What doth a deceiptfull tongue vnto thee what good bryngeth it thee 4 So much as sharpe arrowes of a strong man in thy sydes with Iuniper coales powred on thy head 5 Wo be vnto me that am constrayned to be conuersaunt in Mesech and to dwell among the tentes of Cedar 6 My soule hath dwelt long with hym that hateth peace 7 I am a man of peace but because I do speake therof they prepare them selues to battayle ¶ The argument of the .cxxj. Psalme ¶ The prophete lifteth vp his eyes vnto heauen from whence he most certaynely loketh for ayde at all tymes He assureth all other that God careth defendeth gouerneth and prouideth for those that flee vnto the Lorde for succour in their necessitie ¶ A song of high degrees 1 I Will lift vp myne eyes vnto the hilles from whence my helpe shall come 2 My helpe commeth from God who hath made heauen and earth 3 He wyll not suffer thy foote to moue he wyll not sleepe that kepeth thee 4 Beholde he that kepeth Israel wyll neither slumber nor sleepe 5 God hym selfe is thy keper God is thy defence vpon thy ryght hande 6 The sunne shal not hurt thee by day neither the moone by nyght 7 God wyll preserue thee from all euill he wyll preserue thy soule 8 God wyll preserue thy goyng out and thy commyng in from this tyme foorth for euermore ¶ The argument of the .cxxii. psalme ¶ Dauid declareth the ioy of the people goyng vp to Hierusalem where true religion was set foorth and iustice in courtes ministred for which causes he wisheth great prosperitie to the citie ¶ A song of high degrees of Dauid 1 I Was glad when they sayde vnto me we wyll go into the house of God 2 Our feete shall stande in thy gates O Hierusalem 3 Hierusalem is builded as a citie that is well vnited together in it selfe 4 For the tribes do go vp thyther euen the tribes of the Lorde which is a testimonie vnto Israel for to prayse the name of God 5 For there is ordeyned the seate for iudgement euen the seate of the house of Dauid 6 Pray for the peace of Hierusalem they shall prosper that loue thee 7 Peace be within thy walles and plenteousnesse within thy palaces 8 For my brethren and companions sakes I wyll wyshe peace to be within thee 9 Yea because of the house of God our Lord I wyll procure to do thee good The argument of the cxxiii psalme ¶ The prophete declareth that the godly despited of such as be riche proude and scornfull do loke for helpe only at Gods hande after a most humble sort ¶ A song of high degrees 1 I Lyft vp myne eyes vnto thee who dwellest in heauen 2 Beholde as the eyes of seruauntes loke vnto the hande of their maisters and as the eyes of a mayden vnto the hande of her maistresse euen so our eyes wayte vpon God our Lorde vntyll he haue mercie vpon vs. 3 Haue mâ—y vpon vs O God haue mercy vâ—â—n vs for we haue suffered enough of dispite 4 Our soule is filled with the scornefull reprofe of the wealthy and with the dispitefulnes of the proude ¶ The argument of the .cxxiiij. Psalme ¶ Dauid acknowledgeth that he and his people had ben vtterly destroyed through the violence of enemies if God had not ben on their side with his present ayde ¶ A song of high degrees of Dauid 1 IF God him selfe had not ben of
endureth for euer 6 Who layde out the earth aboue the waters for his mercy endureth for euer 7 Who hath made great lightes for his mercy endureth for euery 8 The sunne to rule in the day for his mercy endureth for euer 9 The moone the starres to gouerne in the night for his mercy endureth for euer 10 Who smote Egypt with their first borne for his mercy endureth for euer 11 And brought out Israel from among them for his mercy endureth for euer 12 With a mightie hande and a stretched out arme for his mercy endureth for euer 13 Who deuided the red sea in partes for his mercy endureth for euer 14 And made Israel to passe through the mydst of it for his mercy endureth for euer 15 He ouerthrewe Pharao and his hoast in the red sea for his mercy endureth for euer 16 Who led his people through the wyldernesse for his mercy endureth for euer 17 Who smote great kinges for his mercy endureth for euer 18 And he slue mightie kynges for his mercy endureth for euer 19 Sihon king of the Amorites for his mercy endureth for euer 20 And Og the king of Bashan for his mercy endureth for euer 21 And he gaue away their lande for an heritage for his mercy endureth for euer 22 For an heritage vnto Israel his seruaunt for his mercy endureth for euer 23 Who remembred vs when we were brought lowe for his mercy endureth for euer 24 And he deliuered vs from our aduersaries for his mercy endureth for euer 25 Who geueth foode vnto al creatures for his mercy endureth for euer 26 Confesse you it vnto the Lord of heauen for his mercy endureth for euer The argument of the .cxxxvij. psalme The prophete declareth the great griefe and lamentation of the children of Israel for that they beyng led prisoners vnto Babylon were prouoked to sing as they vsed to do at Sion He protesteth that he can not forget Hierusalem He prayeth God to remember the Idumites who malitiously incensed their enemies against them He prophesieth of the destruction of Babylon 1 BY the waters of Babylon we set downe there also we wept when we remembred Sion 2 We hanged vp our harpes on the Salou trees in the mydst of it 3 For there they that led vs away captiue required of vs some matter of a song and for our waylynges myrth saying sing vs one of the songes of Sion 4 We aunswered howe can we sing one of the songes of God in another lande besides our owne 5 If I forget thee O Hierusalem let my right hande forget her cunning 6 Let my tongue cleaue to the roofe of my mouth if I do not remember thee yea if I preferre not thee O Hierusalem aboue my most myrth 7 Remember the chyldren of Edom in the day of Hierusalem they sayde downe with it downe with it euen to the grounde 8 O daughter of Babylon who must lye wasted happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast serued vs. 9 Blessed shall he be that taketh throweth thy litle children against the stone The argument of the .cxxxviij. psalme ¶ Dauid thanketh God for his goodnes towardes hym in that he dyd heare hym in aduersitie and deliuered hym from his enemies whereby he trusteth in time to come in all distresses to be helped ¶ Of Dauid 1 I Wyll geue thankes vnto thee O God with my whole heart I wyll sing psalmes vnto thee before the gods 2 I wyll make my lowe obeysaunce towarde thy holy temple and I wyll prayse thy holy name in respect of thy louing kindnes and trueth 3 For thou hast magnified thy name and thy worde aboue all thinges 4 In the day of myne aduersitie I called vpon thee and thou heardest me thou enduedst my soule more and more with strength 5 All the kinges of the earth will prayse thee O God for they haue hearde the wordes of thy mouth 6 Yea they wyll sing of the wayes of God for great is the glory of God 7 For though God be on high yet he will haue respect vnto the lowly and he wyll knowe the proude a farre of 8 If I shall walke in the midst of trouble thou wylt make me to lyue thou wylt stretche foorth thyne hande vpon the furiousnes of mine enemies and thy right hande shall saue me 9 God wyll finishe that he hath begun by me O God thy louing kindnes endureth for euer thou wylt not forsake the workes of thyne owne handes The argument of the .cxxxix. psalme ¶ Dauid falsly accused calleth to witnesse of his innocencie God who knoweth hym throughly and vnto whom nothing is vnknowen of that is sayd done or thought out of whose handes he can not escape in any place Finally he pronounceth that he hateth the wicked to the intent that he may declare that he hath nothing to do with them ¶ To the chiefe musition a psalme of Dauid 1 O GOD thou hast searched me to the quicke and thou hast knowen me 2 Thou knowest my downe sitting mine vprising thou vnderstandest my thoughtes long before they be 3 Thou compassest about my path and my iourney into all coastes and thou vsest all my wayes 4 For there is not a word in my tongue but beholde thou O Lorde knowest it altogether 5 Thou hast fashioned me behinde and before and layde thyne hande vpon me 6 The knowledge that thou hast of me is marueylous it is so high that I can not attayne vnto it 7 Whyther can I go from thy spirite or whyther can I flee away from thy face 8 If I ascende vp into heauen thou art there if I lay me downe in hell thou art there also 9 If I take the wynges of the morning and go to dwell in the vttermost part of the sea 10 Euen there also thy hande shall leade me and thy ryght hande shal holde me 11 And yf I say peraduenture the darknesse shall couer me and the night shal be day for me 12 Truely the darknesse shall not darken any thing from thee and the night shal be as lightsome as the day darknesse and lyght to thee are both alike 13 For thou hast my reynes in thy possession thou didst couer me in my mothers wombe 14 I wyll confesse it vnto thee for that thy doynges are to be dreaded I am made after a marueylous sort thy workes be marueylous and that my soule knoweth ryght well 15 The substaunce of my body was not hyd from thee when I was made in secrete and fashioned with distinct members in my mothers wombe 16 Thyne eyes dyd see me when I was most imperfect and in thy booke * were written euery day of them wherin the partes of my body were shaped and no one of them were knowen vnto thee 17 Howe precious be thy cogitations towardes me O God howe greatly be the summe of them increased 18 I go about to count them I fynde that they
are his worke 12 Wicked doers are an abhomination to the kyng for a kynges seate shoulde be holden vp with ryghteousnesse 13 Ryghteous lippes are pleasaunt vnto kynges and them that speaketh the trueth shall he loue 14 The kinges displeasure is a messenger of death but a wise man wyll pacifie hym 15 The chearfull countenaunce of the kyng is life and his louyng fauour is as a cloude of the latter rayne 16 To haue wisdome in possession is better then to haue golde and to get vnderstandyng is rather to be chosen then to haue siluer 17 The path of the ryghteous is to eschewe euyll and who so loketh well to his wayes kepeth his owne soule 18 Pryde goeth before destruction and an hygh mynde before the fall 19 Better it is to be of humble mynde with the lowly thē to deuide the spoyles with the proude 20 He that handleth a matter wisely obteyneth good and blessed is he that putteth his trust in the Lorde 21 Who so is wyse in heart shal be called prudent and the sweetnesse of his lippes encreaseth learnyng 22 Vnderstandyng is a well of lyfe vnto hym that hath it as for the chastenyng of fooles it is but foolishnesse 23 A wyse heart ordereth his mouth wisely and ministreth learnyng vnto his lippes 24 Fayre wordes are an hony combe a refresshyng of the mynde and health of the bones 25 There is a way that men thynke to be ryght but the ende therof leadeth vnto death 26 A troublous soule disquieteth her selfe for her owne mouth hath brought her therto 27 An vngodly person stirreth vp euyll and in his lippes he is as an hotte burnyng fyre 28 A frowarde body causeth strife and he that is a blabbe of his tongue maketh deuision among princes 29 A wicked man beguyleth his neyghbour and leadeth hym into the way that is not good 30 He shutteth his eyes to deuise mischiefe and moueth his lippes to bryng euyll to passe 31 Age is a crowne of worshyp yf it be founde in the way of ryghteousnesse 32 A patient man is better thē one strong and he that can rule hym selfe is more worth then he that wynneth a citie 33 The lottes are cast into the lappe but the orderyng therof standeth all in the Lorde The .xvij. Chapter 1 BEtter is a drye morsell with quietnesse then a house full of fat offeryng with strife 2 A discrete seruaunt shall haue rule ouer a lewde sonne and shal haue heritage with the brethren 3 As siluer is tryed in the fire and golde in the furnace so doth the Lorde proue the heartes 4 A wicked body geueth heede to false lippes and a lyer geueth eare to a deceiptfull tongue 5 Who so scorneth the poore blasphemeth his maker and he that is glad at another mans hurt shall not be vnpunished 6 Childers children are a crowne of the aged and the fathers are the honour of the children 7 Speache of aucthoritie becommeth not a foole much lesse a lying mouth then beseemeth a prince 8 A gyft is as a precious stone vnto hym that hath it but vnto whom soeuer it turneth it maketh hym vnwise 9 Who so couereth a fault procureth loue but he that discloseth it deuideth very frendes 10 One reproofe more feareth a wise man then an hundred stripes doth a foole 11 A seditious person seketh mischiefe and a cruell messenger shal be sent agaynst hym 12 It were better to meete a shee beare robbed of her whelpes then a foole trustyng in his foolishnesse 13 Who so rewardeth euill for good euill shall not depart from his house 14 The begynnyng of strife is as when a man maketh an issue for water therfore leaue of before the contention be medled with 15 The Lorde hateth as well hym that iustifieth the vngodly as hym that condempneth the innocent 16 Wherto hath a foole treasure in his hande to bye wisdome seyng he hath no mynde therto 17 He is a frende that alway loueth and in aduersitie a man shall knowe who is his brother 18 Who so promiseth by the hande and is suretie for his neighbour he is a foole 19 He that delighteth in sinne loueth strife and who so setteth his doore to hye seeketh destruction 20 Who so hath a frowarde heart obteyneth no good and he that hath a double tongue shall fall into mischiefe 21 He that begetteth a foole begetteth his sorowe and the father of a foole can haue no ioy 22 A mery heart make a lustie age ▪ but a sorowfull mynde dryeth vp the bones 23 The vngodly taketh gyftes out of the bosome to wrest the wayes of iudgement 24 Wisdome shyneth in the face of hym that hath vnderstandyng but the eyes of fooles wander throughout al landes 25 An vndiscrete sonne is a griefe vnto his father and an heauinesse vnto his mother 26 Certaynly to condempne the iust is not good nor to strike the gouernours which iudge ryghtly 27 A wyse man vseth fewe wordes and a man of vnderstandyng is of a patient spirite 28 Yea a very foole when he holdeth his tongue is counted wyse and he that stoppeth his lippes is esteemed prudent The .xviij. Chapter 1 WHo so hath an earnest desire to wisdome he will sequester him selfe to seke it and occupie him selfe in all stedfastnesse sounde doctrine 2 A foole hath no delyght in vnderstandyng but only to vtter the fansies of his owne heart 3 When the vngodly commeth then commeth also disdayne and with the dishonest person commeth shame and dishonour 4 The wordes of a wise mans mouth are lyke deepe waters and the well of wisdome is lyke a full streame 5 It is not good to regarde the person of the vngodly to ouerthrowe the righteous in iudgement 6 A fooles lippes come with brawlyng and his mouth prouoketh vnto stripes 7 A fooles mouth is his owne destruction and his lippes are the snare for his owne soule 8 The wordes of a slaunderer are very woundes and go through vnto the innermost partes of the body 9 Who so is slouthfull in his labour is the brother of hym that is a waster 10 The name of the Lorde is a strong castell the ryghteous runneth vnto it and is in safegarde 11 The riche mans goodes are his strong citie and as an hygh wall in his owne conceipt 12 Before destruction the heart of a man is proude and before honour goeth humilitie 13 He that geueth sentence in a matter before he heare it the same to hym is follie and shame 14 A good stomacke beareth out sicknesse but the mynde beyng sicke who shall heale it 15 A wyse heart possesseth knowledge a prudent eare seeketh vnderstanding 16 A mans gyft maketh an open way to bryng hym before great men 17 The ryghteous declareth his owne cause first hym selfe and his neyghbour commeth and tryeth hym 18 The lot causeth variaunce to ceasse and parteth the mightie a sunder 19
Brethren beyng at variaunce are harder to be wonne then a strong citie and their contentions are like the barre of a castell 20 A mans belly shal be satisfied with the fruite of his owne mouth and with the encrease of his lippes shall he be fylled 21 Death and lyfe are in the instrument of the tongue and they that loue it shall eate the fruite therof 22 who so fyndeth a wyfe fyndeth a good thyng and receaueth fauour of the Lorde 23 The poore prayeth meekely but the râ—che geueth a rough aunswere 24 A man that wyll haue frendes must shewe hym selfe frendly and there is a frende which is nearer then a brother The .xix. Chapter 1 BEtter is the poore that liueth godly then he that abuseth his lippes and is a foole 2 The desire without discretion is not good but as a man which hasteth with his feete offendeth 3 The foolishnesse of man paruerteth his way and his heart fretteth agaynst the Lorde 4 Riches maketh many frendes but the poore is separated from his neighbour 5 A false witnesse shall not be vnpunished and he that speaketh lyes shall not escape 6 The multitude hangeth vpon great men and euery man fauoureth hym that geueth rewardes 7 All the brethren of the poore do hate hym yea his owne frendes withdrawe them selues from hym and he that geueth credence to wordes getteth nothyng 8 He that is wise loueth his owne soule and kepeth vnderstanding that he may prosper 9 A false witnesse shall not be vnpunished and he that speaketh lyes shall perishe 10 Pleasure is not seemely for a foole much lesse for a bondman to haue rule of princes 11 A wise man can put of displeasure and it is his honour to let some faultes passe 12 The kynges displeasure is lyke the roaryng of a Lion but his fauour is lyke the deawe vpon the grasse 13 An vndiscrete sonne is the heauinesse of his father and a brawlyng wyfe is lyke the top of an house wherthrough it is euer droppyng 14 House and riches may a man haue by the heritage of his elders but a discrete woman is the gyft of the Lorde 15 Slouthfulnesse bryngeth sleepe and a soule accustomed with craft shall suffer hunger 16 Who so kepeth the commaundement kepeth his owne soule but he that regardeth not his wayes shall dye 17 He that hath pitie vpon the poore lendeth vnto the Lorde and loke what he layeth out it shal be payde hym agayne 18 Chasten thy sonne while there is hope and let not thy soule spare for his crying 19 A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment and though thou once delyuer hym thou must do it agayne 20 O geue eare vnto good counsayle and be content to be refourmed that thou mayest be wyse in the latter dayes 21 There are many deuises in a mans heart neuerthelesse the counsayle of the Lorde shall stande 22 It is a mans worshyp to do good and a poore man is better then a lyer 23 The feare of the Lord bringeth a man to lyfe and he shall rest the whole night in plenteousnesse without visitation of any plague 24 A slouthfull man shutteth his hande into his bosome and wyll not take payne to put it to his mouth 25 If thou smytest a scornefull person the ignoraunt shall take better heede and yf thou reprouest one that hath vnderstandyng he wyll be the wyser 26 He that hurteth his father or shutteth out his mother is a shamefull and an vnworthy sonne 27 My sonne heare no more the doctrine that leadeth thee vnto errours from the wordes of vnderstandyng 28 A wicked witnesse mocketh iudgement and the mouth of the vngodly deuoureth wickednesse 29 Iudgementes are ordeyned for the scornefull and stripes for fooles backes The .xx. Chapter 1 WIne maketh a man to be scornefull strong drinke causeth a man to be vnquiet who so delighteth therin shall not be wyse 2 The feare of the king is as the roaring of a Lion who so prouoketh hym vnto anger offendeth against his owne soule 3 It is a mans honour to kepe him selfe from strife but euery foole wyll be medling 4 A slouthfull body wyll not go to plow for colde of the winter therefore shall he begge in sommer and haue nothing 5 Counsayle in the heart of man is lyke deepe water but a man of vnderstanding wyll drawe it out 6 Many there be that woulde be called good doers but where shall one finde a faythfull man 7 The chyldren of the iust man which walketh vprightly shal be blessed after hym 8 A kyng that sitteth in the throne of iudgement chaseth away all euyll with his looke 9 Who can say I haue made my heart cleane I am pure from my sinne 10 Two maner of wayghtes or two maner of measures both these are abhomination vnto the Lorde 11 A chylde is knowen by his conuersation whether his workes be pure and right 12 The eare to heare the eye to see the Lorde hath made them both 13 Loue not sleepe lest thou come vnto pouertie but open thyne eyes that thou mayest haue bread inough 14 It is naught it is naught saith he that byeth but when he commeth to his owne house then he boasteth of his peny worth 15 There is golde and a multitude of precious stones but the lippes of knowledge are a precious iewell 16 Take his garment that is suretie for a straunger and take a pledge of hym for the vnknowen sake 17 A man liketh the bread that is gotten with deceipt but at the last his mouth shal be filled with grauell 18 Thorowe counsayle the thinges that men deuise are made strong and with good aduise take warre in hande 19 The craftie deceiptfull be wrayeth secrete counsayle therefore meddle not with hym that flattereth with his lips 20 Who so curseth his father and mother his light shal be put out in the depth of darknesse 21 The heritage that commeth hastylye at the first shall not be blessed at the ende 22 Say not thou I wyll recompence euyll but put thy trust in the Lorde and he shall deliuer thee 23 Diuers waightes are an abhomination vnto the Lord and a false balaunce is not good 24 The Lorde ordereth euery mans goinges how can a man then vnderstand his owne way 25 It is a snare for a man to deuour that whiche is holy and after the vowe to make inquirie 26 A wyse kyng disperseth the vngodly and bringeth the wheele ouer them 27 The lanterne of the Lorde is the breath of man searching all the inwarde partes of the body 28 Mercy and trueth preserueth the king and with louing kindnes his seate is holden vp 29 The strength of young men is their worship and a gray head is an honour vnto the aged 30 Blewe woundes driue away euyll and stripes in the inwarde partes of the body ¶ The .xxj. Chapter 1 THe kynges
12 He that hath the sonne hath lyfe and he that hath not the sonne of God hath not lyfe 13 These thynges haue I written vnto you that beleue on y e name of the sonne of God that ye may knowe howe that ye haue eternall lyfe and that ye may beleue on the name of the sonne of God 14 And this is the trust that we haue in hym that yf we aske any thyng accordyng to his wyll he heareth vs. 15 And yf we knowe that he heare vs whatsoeuer we aske we know that we haue y e petitions that we desire of hym 16 If any man see his brother sinne a sinne not vnto death let hym aske and he shal geue him life for them that sinne not vnto death There is a sinne vnto death I say not that thou shouldest pray for it 17 All vnrighteousnes is sinne and there is sinne vnto death 18 We knowe that whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not but he that is begotten of God kepeth hym selfe and that wicked toucheth hym not 19 We knowe that we are of God the whole worlde c lieth in wickednesse 20 We knowe that the sonne of God is come hath geuen vs a minde to know hym which is true and we are in hym that is true through his sonne Iesus Christe This same is very God and eternall lyfe 21 Babes kepe your selues from idols Amen ⧠The seconde epistle of Saint Iohn 1 He writeth vnto a certayne Lady 4 reioycyng that her chyldren walke in the trueth 5 and exhorteth vnto loue 7 warneth them to beware of such deceauers as denie that Iesus Christ is come in the fleshe 8 prayeth them to continue in the doctrine of Christ 10 and to haue nothyng to do with them that bryng not the true doctrine of Christe Iesus our sauiour 1 THE elder to the elect Lady her chyldren whom I loue in the trueth and not I only but also all that haue knowen y e trueth 2 For the truthes sake which dwelleth in vs and shal be in vs for euer 3 Grace be with you mercie and peace from God the father from the Lorde Iesus Christe the sonne of the father in trueth and loue 4 I reioyced greatly that I founde of thy chyldren walkyng in trueth as we haue receaued a commaundement of the father 5 And nowe beseche I thee Lady not as though I wrote a newe commaundement vnto thee but that same which we haue had from the begynnyng that we shoulde loue one another 6 And this is the loue that we shoulde walke after his cōmaundement This commaundement is that as ye haue hearde from the begynnyng ye shoulde walke in it 7 For many deceauers are entred into the worlde which confesse not that Iesus Christe is come in the fleshe This is a deceauer and an antichriste 8 Loke on your selues that we loose not that we haue wrought but that we may haue a full rewarde 9 Whosoeuer transgresseth and bideth not in the doctrine of Christe hath not God He that endureth in the doctrine of Christe hath both the father and the sonne 10 If there come any vnto you and bring not this learnyng hym receaue not to house neither byd hym God speede 11 For he that byddeth hym God speede is partaker of his euyll deedes 12 I had many thynges to write vnto you neuerthelesse I woulde not write with paper inke but I trust to come vnto you and speake with you mouth to mouth that our ioy may be full 13 The sonnes of thy elect sister greete thee Amen ⧠The thirde epistle of Saint John 2 He is glad of Gaius that he walketh in the trueth 8 exhorteth to be louyng vnto the poore Christen in their persecution 9 sheweth the vnkynde dealyng of Diotrephes 12 and the good report of Demetrius 1 THe elder vnto y e beloued Gaius whom I loue in the trueth 2 Beloued I wishe in all thynges that thou prosperedst and faredst H. L. well euen as thy soule prospereth 3 For I reioyced greatly when the brethren came testified of the trueth that is in thee how thou walkest in y e trueth 4 I haue no greater ioy thē for to heare how that my sonnes walke in veritie 5 Beloued thou doest faythfully whatsoeuer thou doest to the brethren and to straungers 6 Which beare witnesse of thy loue before the Churche Which brethren yf thou bryng forwardes of their iourney after a godly sorte thou shalt do well 7 Because that for his names sake they went foorth and toke nothyng of the gentiles 8 We therfore ought to receaue such that we myght be helpers to the trueth 9 I wrote vnto the Churche but Diotrephes which loueth to haue the preeminence among thē receaueth vs not 10 Wherfore yf I come I wyll declare his deedes which he doth iestyng on vs with malicious wordes neither is therwith content not only he hym selfe receaueth not the brethren but also he forbiddeth thē that woulde and thrusteth them out of the Churche 11 Beloued folow not that which is euyl but that which is good He that doth well is of God but he that doth euyll seeth not God 12 Demetrius hath good report of all men and of the trueth it selfe Yea and we our selues also beare recorde and ye knowe that our recorde is true 13 I haue many thynges to write but I wyll not with inke and penne write vnto thee 14 I trust I shal shortly see thee and we shall speake mouth to mouth Peace be vnto thee The louers salute thee Greete the louers by name ¶ The epistle of Saint Jude ¶ Saint Iude admonisheth all Churches generally to take heede of deceauers which go about to drawe away the heartes of the simple people from the trueth of God wylleth them to haue no societie with such whom he setteth foorth in their liuely colours shewyng by dyuers examples of the scriptures what horrible vengeaunce is prepared for them finally he conforteth the faythfull exhorteth them to perseuer in the doctrine of the Apostles of Iesus Christe 1 IVde the seruaunt of Iesus Christe the brother of Iames To them which are called and sanctified in God the father and preserued in Iesus Christe 2 H. L. Mercy vnto you and peace and loue be multiplied 3 Beloued when I gaue all diligence to write vnto you of the common saluation it was nedeful for me to write vnto you to exhorte you that ye shoulde earnestly contende for the fayth which was once geuen vnto the saintes 4 For there are certayne vngodly men craftily crept in which were before of olde ordeyned to this condemnation They turne the grace of our God vnto wantonnesse and denye God which is the only Lorde and our Lorde Iesus Christe 5 My mynde is therfore to put you in remembraunce forasmuch as ye once knowe this howe that the Lorde after that he had delyuered the people out of Egypt destroyed thē which afterward beleued not 6 The Angels