The Psalter, or Psalms of David and certain canticles / with a translation and exposition in English by Richard Rolle of Hampole ; ed. from manuscripts by the Rev. H. R. Bramley ... With an introduction and glossary.

[PSALM CXXVI.]

NISI dominus edificauerit domum: in vanum laborauer|unt qui edificant eam. ¶ Bot if lord had edifyd the hous; in vayn thai trauayld that edifys it. ¶ This hows is godis folke. in edifiynge of thaim trauayls all that leris godis worde. bot oure lord is makand in thaire saulis. if thaire lare withouten take any stede.

2. Nisi dominus custodierit ciuitatem: frustra vigilat qui custodit eam. ¶ Bot if lord had kepid the cite; in vayne he wakis that kepis it. ¶ That is, bot if oure lord be kepere of oure saulis. all oure besynes is noght suffyssaunt. bot it is as vnnayt wakynge.

3. Vanum est vobis ante lucem surgere: surgite post|quam sederitis, qui manducatis panem doloris. ¶ Vayne is to ȝow forto ryse bifore light; rysis eftire that ȝe hafe sytyn, that etys the bred of sorow. ¶ That is, vayne is to ȝow. if ȝe ryse or lyght ryse, that is, crist. as he dos that settis him bifore crist. couaytand [U uaytand. S couetond.] to be heghe here. thare crist was meke. bot rysis til heghnes eftire that ȝe hafe sytyn: that is, eftire meknes. ȝe that ete the bred of sorow. that is, ȝe that make sorow in ȝoure pilgrimage, and of that sorow has comfort. and swa ȝe sall be heghid.

4. Cum dederit dilectis suis sompnum: ecce hereditas domini filij merces, fructus ventris. ¶ When he has gifen slepe til his derlyngis: lo the heritage of lord mede of sun, froyt of wambe. ¶ Slepe he kallis bodily ded. in the whilke is sikire restynge. til his derlyngis: forthi eftire the ded hope heghynge: for lo than the heritage of god. that is, mede of the sun. that is froyte of the wambe of the maydyn mary. for than godis lufers has the heritage and the mede of crist.

5. Sicut sagitte in manu potentis: ita filij excussorum. ¶ As aruys in hand of myghty; swa the sunnys of outshote. ¶ That is, sunnys of apostils ere sent of godis hand to preche & to lere. and swa is the heritage getyn.

6. Beatus vir qui impleuit desiderium ex ipsis: non con|fundetur cum loquetur inimicis suis in porta. ¶ Blisful man that fulfild his desyre of tha: he sall noght be shamyd when he sall speke till his enmys in the ȝate. ¶ He fulfils his desyre of tha haly prechers that lufys noght this warld. bot fillis hym with godis luf. and he sall noght be shamyd bot honurde in the ȝate. that is, in the dome, when goed men entirs til heuen. ill men til hell. thorgh the ȝate of dome.