The Psalmes of David translated into lyrick-verse, according to the scope, of the original. And illustrated, with a short argument, and a briefe prayer, or meditation; before, & after, every Psalme. By George Wither

Psa. 107.

Halelujah. It exhorts, to praise God, for his vniversall Grace; Acknowledgeth him, the deliverer of all men, in all places, and in all troubles; Confesseth him the Corrector, Orderer, and disposer of kingdomes, persons, & famelies, &c. It is vsefull both for temporall & spirituall bels∣sings: for, by bodiey suffrings; spirituall miseries, are my∣stically signified.

COme praise the Lord, & thanckfully confesse, That he is good, & gratious, without end, Let those whome God redeem'd, his praise expers, Ev'n those whome he did from their foes defend; Collecting them, from East, & westerne Nations, From Northern Clymes, & southern habitations.

2

In deserts wilde, & where no dwellings were, They wandred on, with drought, & hunger, faint: And, them he freed, from all destresses there, When they to him, had vttred their complaint. He ledd them on, in paths directly guiding To Citties faire, whear they had safe abiding.

3

Oh! let men praise the goodnes of the Lord, And publish out, his wonders to their seed:

For, he to hungry men doth meat afford; And, with good things, the longing soul doth feed. He, those vnbinds, that are in fetters chained; And in the bands, & shades of death detained.

4

The word, of God most high, they did reject, And small account, of his advise they made; With heat, & toile, he therfor did afflict And cast them downe, when they no helper had. But, in their need (when they againe complained) He tooke away the greef, which they sustained.

5

Frō deaths black shades, he shew'd thē light some And, all their bands, did quite asunder break; (wais Let all mankinde, therfore, his wonders praise, And of his works, among their Children speake, The brazen Gates, he crakt, & open sett them: Their yron barrs he broke, & forth he fett them.

6

He plaugeth fooles, because they have transgrest; And, for their sinns, they much afflicted are: Their fainting soules, doe pleasant meats detest, They to the gates of death approached near: But, seeking God (when they were so oppressed) From all their paines, & feares, he them released.

7

He sent his word, which did their greevāce heal, Preventing so, their fall, which hastned on. Oh let all men! God's goodnes, therfore tell, And shewe their seed, what wonders he hath done, Let them declare his works, with joyfull singing, The sacrifize, of thanckfull praises, bringing.

8

They that in shipps, at sea employed are, (And for their gaine to crosse the waves are bold) May vewe the works of God-almighty there, And in the deepes his wondrous deeds behold. For, he but breaths, & streight a storm appeareth Which vp aloft, the rowling billowes beareth.

9

Now mounts to heav'n; anon, descēds the keel, And they grow faint, with labour & with fear: As druncken men, they stagger, & they reel; And of their skill, they quite deprived are, Then, to the Lord they cry, who them releases, From all their feares, their dangers, & destresses.

10

For, he, the stormes, to gentle calmes cōvarts, And, quiet then the raging sea, becomes; Then they are joy'd; Then eased are their harts, And, them he brings, to their desired homes. Of these his works, let all men make relations, And shewe his deeds, to future generations.

11

Oh sing his praise, where great Assemblies are, And him, among your elders, glorify; He deserts makes, where once great waters were; He draines the springs of mighty Rivers drie. And, from rich Lands, their fatnes, oft he taketh; When by their sinn, her dwellers, him forsaketh.

12

The Deserts vast, he turnes to standing Lakes; And springs convaies, to lands which barren were: For hungry soules, a dwelling there he makes, Who, for themselues do build a Citty there. They sowe & plant, & reap the hoped blessing, Both of their seed, & of their Vines encreasing.

13

He prospers them; & lo, they are encreast, Their flocks & heards, do fatt & fruitfull grow. Yet, otherwhile, he letts them be opprest, (low, And with great plagues, he, sometime, brings thē He takes from kings, their princely estimation; And, makes them stray, in pathles desolation.

14

But frō all greefs, the meek he still doth raise, And, makes like flocks, his housholds to appear; At sight thereof, the Iust will sing his praise, And they shall dumbe be strook, that wicked are.

All this, they mark; that have true wisdom learned: And, God's great love, by them is well descerned.

Most mercifull God! what Affliction is there, from which wee are not howrely delivered, or preserved, by thee? Nay, what necessarie benifitts are there, which wee have not in the best season, receaved from thee, in what place soever, or of what Nation, or condition soever wee are? In our wandrings, in our poverty, in our sicknesses, in our impri∣sonments; in our Iournyes at sea & land, in our labours, in our goods, in our children, in our sorrowes, in our prosperities, in our persons, in our famelies, in life, in death, yea in eve∣rie thing, wee have continuall experience of thy Mercies; insomuch, that we may confesse thou delightest in nothing, but in shewing Mercy; vnles our sinns compel thy Iustice to afflict us, that thy Mercies may not be despised: and, there is great Mercy, even in that, also. Oh good God! make us ever mindful hereof; & give us wisdome so to mark & con∣sider these things, that both wee & our posteritie, may mag∣nifie thy vnspeakable bounty, & declare thy wonderful wor∣kings, for ever & ever. Amen.