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.

¶ Noli emulari. Psalme. xxxvii. w. w.

¶ Because the godly shoulde not wonder to see wicked men prosper in this world: the prophet sheweth that all thinge shal be graunted ac∣cording to theyr harts desire, to them that loue and feare God: & they that do the contrary, although they seme to florish for a tune, shall at lengthe peryshe. * 1.1

GRudge not to see the wicked men, in wealth to florish styll: Nor yet enuie suche as to ill, haue bent and set their will. [verse 2] For as grene gras & florishing herbes, are cut and wither awaye: So shall theyr great prosperitie, sone passe, fade, and decay.

[verse 3] Trust thou therfore in God alone, to do well geue thy minde: So shalt thou haue the land as thyne, and there sure foode shalt find. [verse 4] In God set all thy harts delyte, and loke what thou wouldst haue: Or els canst wish in all the worlde, thou nedest it not to craue.

[verse 5] Cast both thy selfe and thyne affayres, on God with perfect trust: And thou shalt see with patience, theffect both sure and iust. [verse 6] The perfect life and godly name, he will cleare as the light: So that the sunne, euen at none daies, shall not shine halfe so bryght.

[verse 7] Be still therfore, and stedfastly, on God see thou wayte then:

Nor shrinking for the prosperous state, of leude and wicked men. [verse 8] Shake of despite, enuy and hate, at least in any wise: Their wicked steppes, auoyd and flie, and folow not their guise.

[verse 9] For euery wicked man, will God, destroy both more and lesse: But suche as trust in him are sure, the lande for to posses. [verse 10] Watch but a whyle, and thou shalt see, no more the wicked trayne: No not so muche, as house or place, where once he did remayne.

¶ The seconde parte.

[verse 11] But mercifull and humble men, enioy shall sea and land: In rest and peace they shall reioyse, for nought shall them withstand. [verse 12] The leud men and malicious, against the iust conspire: They gnash their teeth at him, as men, whiche doo his bane desire.

[verse 13] But while that leud men thus do think the Lorde laugh them to scorne: For why he seeth their terme approche, When they shall sygh and morne. [verse 14] The wicked haue their sword out drawē their bowe eke haue they bent: To ouerthrow and kill the poore, as they the right way went.

[verse 15] But the same sword shal pearse their har∣ts which was to kil the iust: Likewise the bow shal breake to shiuers wherin they put theyr trust. [verse 16] Doubtles the iust mans poore estate, is better agreat deale more: Then all these leud and worldly mens, rich pompe and heaped store.

[verse 17] For be their power neuer so stronge, God will it ouerthrowe: Where contrary he doth preserue, the humble men and lowe. [verse 18] He seeth by his great prouidence, the good mens trade and way: And will geue them inheritaunce, which neuer shall decay.

[verse 19] They shall not be discouraged, when some are hard bested: When other shalbe hungre bit, they shall be clad and fed. [verse 20] For whosoeuer wicked is, and enemie to the Lorde: Shal quaile, yea melt euē as lābs grease or smoke that flieth abrode,

The thirde parte.

[verse 21] Beholde the wicked boroweth muche, and neuer paith againe: wheras the iust by liberall giftes, makth many glad and faine. [verse 22] For they whō God doth bles. shall haue the lande for heritage:

And they whom he doth curse likewise, shall pearysh in his rage.

[verse 23] The Lord the iust mās waies doth guid and geuth him good successe: To euery thing he taketh in hande, he sendeth good addresse. [verse 24] Though that he fall, yet is he sure, not vtterly to quayle: Because the Lord stretche out his hand, at nede, and doth not fayle.

[verse 25] I haue ben yong and now am olde, yet did I neuer see: The iust man left, or els his sede, to begge for miserye. [verse 26] But geueth alwayes most liberally, and lendthe wheras is nede: His children and posteritie, receiue of God their mede.

[verse 27] Flee vice therfore and wickednes, and vertue doo embrace: So God shall graunt thee long to haue in earth a dwellyng place: [verse 28] For God so loueth equitie, and she wth to his such grace: That he preserueth them euermore, but destroyth the wicked race.

[verse 29] Where as the good and godly men, inherite shall the land: Hauing as Lordes all thing therin, in their owne power and hand. [verse 30]

30 The iust mans mouth doth euer speake, of maters wise and hye: His tong doth talke to edifie, with truth and equitie.

[verse 31] For in his hart the law of God, his Lorde doth still abide: So that where he goeth or walketh, his foote can neuer slide. [verse 32] The wicked like a rauening wolfe, the iust man doth beset: By all meanes seking him to kill, if he fall in his net.

¶ The forthe parte.

[verse 33] Though he should fall into his hands, yet God would succor send: Though men against him sentence geue, God would him yet defend. [verse 34] Wayt thou on God, and kepe his way, he shall preserue thee then: The earth to rule and thou shalt see, destroyde these wicked men.

[verse 35] The wicked haue I sene most strong, and placed in high degree: Florishing in all wealth and store, as doth the Laurell tree. [verse 36] But sodenly he passed away, and lo he was quite gone: Then I him sought, but could scarse finde the place where dwelt such one.

[verse 37] Marke and behold the perfite man, how God doth him increase:

for the iust man shall haue at length, great ioy with rest and peace. [verse 38] As for transgressours, wo to them, destroyde they shall all be: God will cut of theyr budding race, and ryche posteritie.

[verse 19] But the saluation of the iust, doth come from God aboue: Who in their trouble sendth them aide of mercy grace and loue. [verse 40] God doth them helpe, saue and deliuer, from leud men and vniust: And still will saue them whilst that they in him do put theyr trust,

Notes

• * 1.1

  Sing this as the. xxxv. psalme.