Judica me, Domine. Psal. xxxv.
LOrd, plead my cause against my soes,
confound their force and might:
••ight on my part against all those
that seek with me to fight.
•• Lay hand upon the spear and shield,
thy self in armour dress:
••tand up for me, and fight the field,
to help me from distress.
[verse 3] Gird on thy sword, and stop the way,
mine enemies to withstand:
That thou unto my soul mayst say,
Lo I thy help at hand.
[verse 4] Confound them with rebuke and blame,
that seek my soul to spill:
••et them turn back and flee with shame,
that think to work me ill.
[verse 5] Let them disperse and flee abroad,
as wind doth drive the dust:
••nd that the angel of our God
their might away may thrust.
[verse 6] Let all their ways be void of light,
and slippery like to fall:
••••d send thine angel with thy might,
to persecute them all.
[verse 7] For why? without my fault they have
in secret set their grin:
••••d for no cause have digg'd a cave
to take my soul therein.
[verse 8] When they think least and have no care,
O Lord, destroythem all:
••••t them be trapt in their own snare,
and in their mischief fall.
[verse 9] And let my soul, my heart and voice,
In God have joy and wealth:
••••at in the Lord I may rejoyce,
••nd in his saving health.
[verse 10] And then my bones shall speak and say,
••••y parts shall all agree:
Lord, though they do seem full gay,
what man is like to thee?
The second part.
[verse 11] Thou dost defend the weak from them
that are both stout and strong:
〈◊〉〈◊〉 rid the poor from wicked men,
that spoil and do them wrong.
[verse 12] My cruel foes against me rise
to witness things untrue:
〈◊〉〈◊〉 to accuse me they devise
of things I never knew.
[verse 13] Where I to them did ow good will,
they quit me with disdain:
That they should pay my good with ill,
my soul doth sore complain.
[verse 14] When they were sick I mourn'd there∣fore
and clad my self in sack:
With fasting I did saint full sore,
to pray I was not slack.
[verse 15] As they had been my brethren dear,
I did my self behave:
As one that maketh woful chear
about his mothers grave.
[verse 16] But they at my disease did joy,
and gather on a rout:
Yea, abject slaves at me did toy,
with mocks and checks full stout.
[verse 17] The belly-gods and flattering train,
that all good things deride,
At me do grin with great disdain,
and pluck their mouthes alide.
[verse 18] Lord, when wilt thou amend this gear?
why dost thou stay and pause?
O rid my soul mine onely dear,
out of these lions claws.
[verse 19] And then will I give thanks to thee
before the church always:
And where most of the people be,
there will I shew thy praise.
[verse 20] Let not my foes prevail on me,
which hate me for no fault:
Nor yet to wink or turn their eye,
that causless me assault.
The third part.
[verse 21] Of peace no word they think or say,
their talk is all untrue:
They still consult and would betray
all those that peace ensue.
[verse 22] With open mouth they run at me,
they gape, they laugh, they fleer:
Well, well, say they, our eye doth see
the thing that we desire.
[verse 23] But, Lord, thou seest what ways they take,
cease not this gear to mend:
Be not far off, nor me forsake,
as men that sail their friend.
[verse 24] Awake, arise, and stir abroad.
defend me in my right:
Revenge my cause, my Lord, my God,
and aid me with thy might.
[verse 25] According to thy righteousness,
my Lord God, set me free:
And let them not their pride express,
nor triumph over me.
[verse 26] Let not their hearts rejoyce and cry,
There, there, this gear goes trim:
Nor give them cause to say on high,
We have our will on him.
[verse 27] Confound them with rebuke and shame,
that joy when I do mourn:
And pay them home with spight and blame,
that brag at me with scorn.
[verse 28] Let them be glad and eke rejoyce,
which love mine upright way:
And they all times with heart and voice
shall praise the Lord, and say,
[verse 29] Great is the Lord, and doth excell,
for why? he doth delight
To see his servants prosper well;
that is his pleasant sight.
[verse 30] Wherefore my tongue I will apply
thy righteousness to praise:
Unto the Lord my God will I
sing laud and praise alwaies.