One and forty divine odes Englished: set to King Davids princely harpe. By S.P.L.

PSAL. XXXVIII.

COrrect me not, Lord, in thy burning ire, (Who mad'st and rul'st the vniuersall masse) Though I deserue what Iustice may require, Yet let not Fury on my Iudgement passe.

2 The arrowes deepe within my entrailes sticke,Line 2 Which thy right hand did leuell at my heart, Thy wrath so gaules, my conscience so doth pricke, (And forc'd by them feare seizeth eu'ry part,)

3 That in my wounded soule no peece is freeLine 3 From mortall sins, which so waste all within, As that my bones (their ioints so loosened be) Haue suckt the poison of infecting sin:

4 Of sin that doth ingulfe me in the maine,Line 4 And if my head aboue the waues but peepe, Or that I doe but striue to rise againe, It weighes me like a stone downe to the deepe.

5 The new skinn'd skarres of my old wounds renew'd,Line 5 Spue out foule matter, and with paine brought low, 6 With anguish, and long lying vglie hu'd,Line 6 The worst, and last of ills, surcharge my woe.

7 The plague-fore hid within my belly boiles,Line 7 Nor any part without is free from paine, Line 8

8 So weake am I, and broken too with toiles,Line 8 That day and night I am enforc'd to plaine.

And made to yeeld vnto my pressing ills My heart doth cry, and like a Lion roare, 9 Thou Monarch of the world, whose power all fils,Line 9 Know'st what my soule desires, and sighes implore.

10 My trembling heart, and troubled mind with feareLine 10 Doe beat, and pant, the iuice, that all parts fed, And vigour spent, no force is left to cheare My members stricken with a palsie dead.

My eyes now drawing tow'rds their euening, cloud. 11 Neere neighbors, & deere friends, & neerer boundLine 11 By deerer linke of blood, me disauow'd, And all cry'd faugh, lothing my parts vnsound.

12 But that proud crue still ready for my ill,Line 12 Deuising wrong with vtmost maine, and might, Spread their slye nets, and that they hold on still, And impious fraud assaid they day and night.

13, 14 In the meane while like him was deafe & mute,Line 13 14 I stone-still stood, and silence kept as one Who wanted words, and reasons to confute Obiected crimes, and could reply to none.

15 Whose power rules all, O guide me with thy grace,Line 15 16 In thee my hope is fixt, then let not prideLine 16 With scorne insult to see my dolefull case, Or foes triumph if foot but slip aside.

17 I ready am thy sturdy stroaks to beareLine 17

My skin swels with the markes still black and blue, Rent as a plow share doth the furrowes teare, So in long streakes it shewes a bloody hue.

18 My sins I know deserue, deserue the wound,Line 18 And worthily I all these plagues sustaine, 19 But still my foe, my cruell foe gets ground,Line 19 The faction too doth strength and courage gaine.

20 They liue, and liuing sprout, and beare vp head,Line 20 And though of them I, Lord, deserue no ill, With wrongs they me pursue, by fury lead, And iniuries repay for my good will.

And still they spit their gall, and wot you why? Because I alwayes follow that is right. 21 But be not thou far off, nor let me lye,Line 21 Nor leaue me thus engag'd to spitefull'st spite. 22 Make hast, and giue me thy sweet sauing hand,Line 22 Since for my helpe, I haue but thee to stand.