The whole booke of Psalmes collected into Englysh metre by T. Starnhold, I. Hopkins, & others, conferred with the Ebrue, with apt notes to synge the[m] with al ; faithfully perused and alowed according to thordre appointed in the Quenes Maiesties iniunctions ; very mete to be vsed of all sortes of people priuately for their solace & comfort, laying apart all vngodly songes and ballades, which tende only to the norishing of vyce, and corrupting of youth.

¶ Exaudi domine iustitiam meam. Psal. xvii. T. S

¶ Here he complayneth to god of thecruel pride and arrogancye of Sau¦le, and the rest of his enemies, who thus raged withoute anye cause geuen on his part: therfore he desireth God to reuenge his innocency and deliuer him. This Psalm ought diligently to be noted of sucheas receiue euell, for well doyng.

O Lorde geue eare to my iust cause, * 1.1 attend when I complaine: And heare the prayer that I put forth with lippes that doo not fayne. [verse 2] And let the iudgement of my cause, procede alwayes from thee:

And let thyne eyes beholde, and cleare thys my simplicitie,

[verse 3] Thouhast well tryed me in the night, and yet couldst nothyng fynde: That I haue spoken with my tonge, that was not in my minde. [verse 4] As from the workes of wicked men, and pathes peruerse and ill: For loue of thy most holy worde, I haue refrayned styll.

[verse 5] Then in thy pathes that be most pure, stay me (Lorde) and preserue: That from the way wherin I walke, my steppes may neuer swerue. [verse 6] For I dou call to thee (O Lorde) surely thou wylt me ayde: Then heare my prayer & way right wel the wordes that I haue sayde.

[verse 7] O thou the sauiour of all them, that put theyr trust in thee: Declare thy strength on thē that spurn, against thy maiestie. [verse 8] O kepe me (Lord) as thou wouldst kepe the apple of thine eye: And vnder couert of thy winges, defend me secretly.

¶ The seconde parte.

[verse 9] From wicked men that trouble me, and dayly me anoy: Ind from my foes that go about, my soule for to destroy. [verse 10]

10 Whiche wallow in their worldly wealth, so full and eke so fat: That in theyr pride they do not spare, to speake they care not what.

[verse 11] They lye in wayte where we should passe * 1.2 with craft me to confounde: And musing mischief in their mindes, to cast me to the grounde. [verse 12] Muche lyke a Lyon gredely, that would hys praye embrace: Or lurking like a Lyons whelpe, within some secrete place.

[verse 13] Up Lorde with hast preuent my foe, and cast hym at thy feete: Saue thou my soule from the euil man, and with thy sworde him smite. [verse 14] Deliuer me Lorde by thy power, out of these tyrantes handes: Whiche nowe so longe time raigned haue. and kepe vs in theyr bandes.

[verse 15] I meane from worldly men, to whom all worldly goodes are ryse: That haue no hope nor part of ioy, but in this present lyfe. Thou of thy store, theyr bellies filst, with pleasures to their minde: Theyr children haue inough, and leaue, to theirs the rest behinde.

[verse 16] But I shall with pure conscience, beholde thy gratious face:

So when I wake I shalbe full, with thine image and grace.

Notes

• * 1.1

  ¶ Sing this as the. xiiii. psalme.
• * 1.2

  Meaning him¦self and his cō¦panyons.