Eripe me. Psal. cxl.
LOrd, save me from the evil man,
and from the cruel wight:
[verse 2] And from all those which evil do
imagine in their sprite.
Which make on me continual war,
their tongues lo they have whet
[verse 3] Like serpents; underneath their lips
is adders poison set,
[verse 4] Keep me, O Lord, from wicked hands,
preserve me to abide
Free from the cruel man, that means
to cause my steps to slide.
[verse 5] The proud have laid a snare for me,
and they have spread a net
With cords in my path-way, and grins
for me eke have they set.
[verse 6] Therefore I said unto the Lord.
Thou art my God alone:
Hear me, O Lord, O hear the voice
wherewith I pray and mone.
[verse 7] O Lord my God, thou onely art
the strength that saveth me:
My head in day of battel hath
been covered still by thee.
[verse 8] Let not. O Lord, the wicked have
the end of his desire:
Perform not his ill thoughts, left he
with pride be set on fire.
[verse 9] Of them that compass me about,
the chiefest of them all,
Lord, let the mischief of their lips
upon themselves befall.
[verse 10] Let coals fall on them, let him cast
them in consuming flame,
And in deep pits; so as they may
not rise out of the same.
[verse 11] For no backbiter shall on earth
be set in stable plight:
And evil to destruction still
shall hunt the cruel wight.
[verse 12] I know the Lord th' afflicted will
revenge, and judge the poor:
[verse 13] The just shall praise thy Name: just shall
dwell with thee evermore.