The Psalmes of Dauid truly opened and explaned by paraphrasis, according to the right sense of euerie Psalme. With large and ample arguments before euerie Psame, declaring the true vse thereof. To the which is added a briefe table, shewing wherevnto euery Psalme is particularly to be applied, according to the direction of M. Beza and Tremellius. Set foorth in Latine by that excellent learned man Theodore Beza. And faithfully translated into English, by Anthonie Gilbie, and by him newly purged from sundrie faultes escaped in the first print, and supplied with the principal pointes of euerie Psalme, summarilie set downe in a table at the end of the booke.

PSALME. CXLIIII.

The Argument.

Dauid being renowmed with noble victories, and that not without singular courage and strength both of bodie and mind, as it is knowne by his historie: yet in this Psalme, which doth wholie agree with the 18. he doth so giue thanks vnto God, that he doth attribute no more to him selfe in warlike affaires, than Paule doth in the ministe∣rie of the Gospel, when he saith, that He that planteth, and he that watereth are nothing: but that it is God onlie that giueth the increase. He teacheth al men true humilitie of mind, what great diligence soeuer they haue vsed in the worke committed vnto them. And because our battel is so long as our life lasteth, he giueth thanks so for the victories obteined, that he desires new strength against new conflicts, which are at hand, giuing a sin∣gular admonition to take heed, least we being made more negligent by prosperous successe, be ouercome at vnwares by the enimie. Finallie, he doth open the fountaine, from whence al good things both publike and priuate doe flowe: to wit, the sincere worship of the true God, clo∣sing vp the Psalme with a most magnificent acclamati∣on, the which would to God al Commonwealths would earnestlie meditate!

THE PARAPHRASIS.

1 I Doe render vnto thee, ô Lord, mine onelie strength, the praise of al these victories by most worthie right. For I doe attribute it vnto thee, that these my hands haue fought so valiant∣lie, and that my fingers haue handled my sword so

cunninglie.

2 For thou art hee, by whose benefit I remaine aliue: thou art my defence, my tower, my sauiour, my shield, my refuge: finallie, thou art he who on∣lie hast subdued al this people vnto me.

3 For, I praie thee, what maner a thing is man, that most miserable of al liuing things, and most ful of calamities? wherefore shouldst thou regard him? what haue mortal men borne of those y^t are mortal in themselues, that thou shouldst take care of them?

4 Certainlie, he himselfe is most like a thing of naught, and his life is like a shadowe that passeth awaie most swiftlie.

5 Be present therefore with me, ô Lord, without whose helpe I perish, and come foorth terriblie from thy heauenlie tower, and testifie thy presence with the tempests following thee, and command the tops of the clouds being striken, to cast foorth stormie whirlewinds.

6 Let thunderbolts followe, whereby thou maiest cast downe their troups, let lightnings come thicke glistering like darts, wherewith thou maiest disor∣der their whole armies.

7 Finallie, stretch foorth thy hand, and deliuer me from these whirlepooles, euen from the hands of these strangers.

8 I doe cal them strangers, because that although they be counted in thy familie, yet do they nothing appertaine vnto thee, seeing their mouth is ful of falshood, and their hands are defiled with a thou∣sand deceits.

9 But euen these also thou wilt driue awaie, ther∣fore I wil sing a new song vnto thee, both with my voice, and with mine instruments:

10 Vnto thee, I saie, which art the reuenger of roi∣al dignitie, and the defender of Dauid thy seruant, euen now readie to be slaine with the sword of his aduersaries.

11 Wherefore deliuer me, and defend me out of the hands of these strangers, whose mouth is ful of falshood, and their hands are ful of deceit.

12 For thus (least I be thought to respect onelie mine owne commoditie) our sonnes also shal be like the faire plants which growe vp speedilie at the verie beginning: and our daughters being of a tal and comlie stature, shal be like vnto pillers cun∣ninglie polished or carued, wherewith the entries of palaces are sustained.

13 In our storehouses al kind of prouision shal abound: manie millians of our cattel shal plenti∣fullie fil our streets.

14 Our heards shal be seene to be of a strong and wel knit bodie, there shal no-where be anie inuasi∣on of enimies, which should neede to be repulsed with armies: there shal no crie be heard through∣out the cities.

15 O happie people, to whom thou shalt giue this thing! ô blessed is that people, which acknowled∣geth the Lord to be his God, and whome the Lord likewise acknowledgeth for his people!