PSALM XXXIX .

Dixi, custodiam.

1.

Thus did I think, I well will mark my way,
Least by my tongue I hap to stray;
I muzzle will my mouth while in the sight
I do abide of wicked wight.
And so I nothing said, I muet stood,
I silence kept, ev'n in the good.

2.

But still the more that I did hold my peace,
The more my sorrow did encrease;
The more me thought my heart was hott in me,
And as I mus'd such world to see,
The fire took fire, and forcibly out breake;
My tongue would needs, and thus I spake:

3.

Lord, unto me my times just measure giue,
Shew me how long I haue to liue.
Lo, Thou a span's length madest my living line;
A span? nay, nothing in Thyne eyne.
What do we seeke? the greatest that I see,
At best, is merely vanity.

4.

They are but shades, not true things where we liue;
Vain shades and vain, in vain to grieue.
Look but on this; man still doth riches heape,
And knowes not who the fruits shall reap.
This being thus, for what, O Lord, wait I?
I wait on Thee with hopefull ey.

5.

O, help me, help me, this farr yet I craue,
From my transgressions me to saue;
Let me not be thrown down to so base shame,
That fooles of me may make their game.
But I do hush, why do I say thus much?
Since it is Thou that makest me such.

6.

Ah! yet from me let Thy plagues be displac't,
For with Thy handy stroakes I wast.
I know that man's foule sin doth cause Thy wrath,
For when his sin Thy scourging hath,
Thou mak'st his beauty moth-like fading be;
So what is man but vanity?

7.

Heare, Lord, my suits and cryes: stop not Thyn eares
At these my words all cloath'd in teares,
For I with Thee on earth a stranger am,
But baiting, as my fathers came.
Stay then Thy wrath, that I may strength receiue,
Ere I my earthly being leaue.