Classic Poem

PSALM XXXV .

Judica, Domine.

1.

Speake Thou for me against wrong-speaking foes,
Thy force, O Lord, against their force oppose;
Take vp Thy shield, and for my succour stand,
Yea, take. Thy lance, and stop the way of those
That seek my bane; O, make me understand
In sprite that I shall haue Thy helping hand.

2.

Confound those folks, thrust them in shamefull hole
That hunt so poore a prey as is my soule;
Rebuke and wreck on those wrong doers throw,
Who for my hurt each way their thoughts doe roll,
And as vile chaff away the wind doth blow,
Let angel Thine a-scattring make them go.

3.

Let angel Thine persue them as they fly,
But let their flight be dark and slippery;
For causeless they both pitt and net did sett,
For causeles they did seek to make me dy:
Let their sly witts unware destruction get,
Fall in self pitt, be caught in their own nett.

4.

Then shall I joy in Thee, then sav'd by Thee,
I both in mind and bones shall gladded be;
Even bones shall say, O God, who is Thy peere,
Who poore and weake from rich and strong dost free?
Who helpest those whose ruin was so neere,
From him whose force did in their spoiles appeere?

5.

Who did me wrong, against me witness beare,
Laying such things as in me never were:
So my good deeds they pay this evill share,
With cruel wordes my very soul to teare.
And whose? ev'n his, who when they sickness bare
With inward wo, an outward sackcloth weare.

6.

I did pull down my self, fasting for such,
I prayd with prayers which my breast did touch;
In summe I shew'd that I to them was bent
As brothers, or as friendes beloved much.
Still, still for them I humbly mourning went,
Like one that should his mother's death lament.

7.

But lo, soon as they did me staggering see,
Who joy but they when they assembled bee!
Then abjects, when I was unwitting quite,
Against me swarm, ceaseless to raile at me
With scoffers false; I was their feasts' delight,
Ev'n gnashing teeth to witness more their spight.

8.

Lord, wilt Thou se, and wilt Thou suffer it?
Oh! on my soul let not these tumults hitt;
Saue me, distrest, from lion's cruel kind:
I will thank Thee where congregations sitt,
Even where I do most store of people find,
Most to Thy lawes will I my speeches bind.

9.

Then, then let not my foes unjustly joy;
Let them not fleere who me would causless 'stroy,
Who never word of peace yet utter would,
But hunt with craft the quiet man's annoy,
And said to me, wide mowing, as they could:
Aha, Sir, now we see you where we should.

10.

This Thou hast seen: and wilt Thou silent be?
O Lord, do not absent Thy self from me,
But rise, but wake, that I may judgment gett.
My Lord, my God, even to my equity,
Judg, Lord, judg, God, even in Thy justice great,
Let not their joyes vpon my woes be sett.

11.

Let them not, Lord, within their hearts thus say: —
" O soule, rejoyce, we made this wretch our prey."
But throw them down, put them to endlesse blame,
Who make a cause to joy of my decay;
Let them be cloath'd in most confounding shame
That lift themselues my ruin for to frame.

12.

But make such glad and full of joyfulness
That yet beare loue unto my righteousness;
Yea, let them say, Laud be to God alwayes,
Who loues with good His servants good to blesse.
As for my tongue, while I haue any dayes,
Thy justice witness shall, and speake Thy prayse.