The translation of certaine psalmes into English verse by the Right Honourable, Francis Lo. Verulam, Viscount St. Alban. Bacon, Francis, 1561-1626. 1625 Approx. 19 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 11 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A01612 STC 1174 ESTC S650 22123619 ocm 22123619 25114 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A01612) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 25114) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1762:11) The translation of certaine psalmes into English verse by the Right Honourable, Francis Lo. Verulam, Viscount St. Alban. Bacon, Francis, 1561-1626. [4], 21 [i.e. 17] p. Printed for Hanna Barret, and Richard Whittaker, and are to be sold at the signe of the Kings Head in Pauls Church-yard, London : 1625. This work is not a translation so much as a paraphrase--Cf. NUC pre-1956 imprints. Signatures: A⁴(-A1) B-C⁴. Numbers 11-14 skipped in pagination. STC 1174 on reel 871 is actually 1174.5--Cf. reel guide. Reproduction of original in the Bodleian Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. 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Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Bible. -- O.T. -- Psalms -- Paraphrases, English. 2002-03 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2002-04 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2002-05 TCP Staff (Oxford) Sampled and proofread 2002-05 Emma (Leeson) Huber Text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-06 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE TRANSLATION OF CERTAINE PSALMES INTO ENGLISH VERSE : BY THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE , Francis Lo. VERVLAM , Viscount St. ALBAN . LONDON , Printed for Hanna Barret , and Richard Whittaker , and are to be sold at the signe of the Kings Head in Pauls Church-yard . 1625. TO HIS VERY GOOD FREND , Mr. GEORGE HERBERT . THE paines , that it pleased you to take , about some of my Writings , I cannot forget : which did put mee in minde , to dedicate to you , this poore Exercise of my sicknesse . Besides , it being my manner for Dedications , to choose those that I hold most fit for the Argument , I thought , that in respect of Diuinitie , and Poesie , met , ( whereof the one is the Matter , the other the Stile of this little Writing ) I could not make better choice . So , with signification of my Loue and Acknowledgement , I euer rest Your affectionate Frend , FR : St ALBAN . THE TRANSLATION OF The first Psalme . WHo neuer gaue to wicked read , A yeelding and attentiue eare : Who neuer Sinners paths did tread ; Nor sate him downe in Scorners chaire : But maketh it his whole delight , On Law of God to meditate , And therein spendeth day and Night ; That Man is in a happie State. He shall be like the fruitfull Tree , Planted along a running Spring , Which in due season , constantly , A goodly yeeld of Fruit doth bring , Whose leaues continue alwaies greene , And are no prey to winters power : So shall that Man not once be seene Surprized with an euill Hower . With Wicked Men it is not so , Their Lot is of another kinde : All as the Chaffe , which too and fro , Is tost at Mercie of the winde . And when he shall in Iudgment plead , A casting Sentence bide he must : So shall he not lift vp his Head , In the Assembly of the Iust. For why the Lord hath Speciall Eye , To be the Godlies stay at call : And hath giuen ouer , righteously , The wicked Man to take his fall . The Translation of the 12. Psalme . HElpe Lord , for godly Men haue took their flight , And left the Earth to be the Wicked's Den : Not one that standeth fast to Truth and Right , But feares , or seekes to please , the Eies of Men. When one with other fall's in talke apart , Their meaning goeth not with their words , in proofe ; But faire they flatter , with a clouen Heart , By pleasing words , to worke their owne behoofe . But God cut off the Lips , that are all set , To trap the harmlesse Soule , that peace hath vow'd ; And pierce the Tongues , that seeke to counterfet The Confidence of Truth , by lying loud : Yet so they thinke to reigne , and worke their will , By subtill Speech , which enter's euery where : And say , Our Tongues are ours , to helpe vs still , What need wee any Higher Power to feare ? Now for the bitter sighing of the poore , The Lord hath said , I will no more forbeare , The Wicked's Kingdome to inuade and scoure , And set at large the Men restrain'd in feare . And sure , the Word of God is pure , and fine , And in the triall neuer looseth waight ; Like Noble Gold , which since it left the Mine , Hath seuen times passed through the fiery straight . And now thou wilt not first thy word forsake , Nor yet the Righteous man , that leanes theretoo ; But will 't his safe Protection vndertake , In spight of all , their force , and wiles can doe . And time it is , ô Lord , thou didst draw nigh , The Wicked daily doe enlarge their Bands ; And that , which makes them follow ill a vie , Rule is betaken to vnworthy Hands . The Translation of the 90. Psalme . OLord , thou art our Home , to whom we fly , And so hast alwaies beene from Age to Age. Before the Hills did intercept the Eye , Or that the Frame was vp of Earthly Stage , One God thou wert , and art , and still shalt bee ; The Line of Time , it doth not measure thee . Both Death and Life obey thy holy lore , And visit in their turnes , as they are sent . A Thousand yeares with thee , they are no more , Then yesterday , which , ereit is , is spent : Or as a watch by night , that course doth keepe , And goes , and comes , vnwares to them that sleepe . Thou carriest Man away as with a Tide ; Then downe swim all his Thoughts , that mounted high ; Much like a mocking Dreame , that will not bide , But flies before the sight of waking Eye ; Or as the Grasse , that cannot terme obtaine , To see the Summer come about againe . At Morning , faire it musters , on the Ground , At Euen it is cut downe , and laid along : And though it spared were and fauour found , The wether would performe the Mowers wrong : Thus hast thou hang dour Life on brittle Pins , To let vs know , it will not beare our Sins . Thou buriest not within obliuious Tombe Our Trespasses , but entrest them aright : Euen those that are conceiu'd in darkenesse Wombe To thee appeare , as done at broad day light . As a Tale told , which sometimes men attend , And sometimes not , our Life steales to an end . The Life of Man is threescore yeares and ten , Or if that he be strong , perhaps fourescore , Yet all things are but labour to him then , New sorrowes still come on , Pleasures no more : Why should there be such turmoile & such strife , To spin in length this feeble Line of Life ? But who consider's duely of thine Ire ? Or doth the thoughts thereof wisely embrace ? For thou , O God , art a consuming Fire , Fraile Man , how can he stand before thy face ? If thy displeasure thou do'st not refraine , A Moment brings all backe to Dust againe . Teath vs , O Lord , to number well our Daies , Thereby our Hearts to wisdome to apply ; For that , which guides Man best in all his waies , Is Meditation of Mortality . This bubble light , this vapour of our Breath , Teach vs to consecrate to Howre of Death . Returne vnto vs Lord , and ballance now With daies of Ioy , our daies of Misery ; Helpe vs right soone , our knees to thee we bow , Depending wholy on thy Clemency : Then shall thy Seruants both with heart & voice , All the daies of their Life , in thee reioyce . Begin thy worke , O Lord , in this our Age , Shew it vnto thy Seruants that now liue ; But to our Children raise it many a Stage That all the World to thee may glory giue . Our Handy worke likewise , as fruitfull Tree , Let it O Lord , blessed , not blasted be . The Translation of the 104. Psalme . Father and King of Powers , both high and low , Whose sounding Fame all creatures serue to blow ; My Soule shall with the rest strike vp thy praise , And Caroll of thy workes , and wondrous wayes . But who can blaze thy Beauties , Lord , aright ? They turne the brittle Beames of mortall sight . Vpon thy head thou wear'st a glorious Crowne , All set with vertues , polisht with renowne : Thence round about a Siluer Vaile doth fall Of Chrystall Light , Mother of Colours all . The Compasse heauen , smooth without graine , or fold , All set with Spangs of glitt'ring Stars vntold , And stript with golden Beames of power vnpent , Is raised vp for a remouing Tent. Vaulted and arched are his Chamber Beames , Vpon the Seas , the Waters , and the streames : The Clouds as Chariots swift doe scoure the sky ; The stormy winds vpon their wings doe fly . His Angels Spirits are that wait his Will , As flames of Fire his anger they fulfill . In the beginning with a mighty Hand , He made the Earth by counterpoyse to stand ; Neuer to moue , but to be fixed still ; Yet hath no Pillars but his Sacred Will. This Earth , as with a vaile , once couered was , The Waters ouerflowed all the Masse : But vpon his rebuke away they fled , And then the Hills began to shew their Head ; The Vales their hollow Bosomes opened plaine , The Streames ran trembling down the vales again : And that the Earth no more might drowned be He set the Sea his Bounds of Liberty ; And though his Waues resound and beat the shore , Yet is it brideled with his holy lore . Then did the Riuers seeke their proper places , And found their Heads , their Issues , and their races : The Springs doe feed the Riuers all the way , And so the tribute to the Sea repay : Running along through many a pleasant field , Much fruitfulnesse vnto the Earth they yeeld : That know the Beasts and Cattell feeding by , Which for to slake their Thirst doe thither hie . Nay Desert Grounds the Streames doe not forsake , But through the vnknowne waies their iourney take : The Asses wilde that bide in Wildernesse , Doe thither come , their Thirst for to refresh . The shady Trees along their Bankes doe spring , In which the Birds doe build , and sit and sing ; Stroking the gentle Ayre with plesant notes , Plaining or Chirping through their warbling throtes . The higher Grounds where Waters cannot rise , By raine and Dewes are watred from the Skies ; Causing the Earth put forth the Grasse for Beasts , And garden Herbs , seru'd at the greatest Feasts ; And Bread that is all Viands Firmament , And giues a firme and solid Nourishment ; And Wine Mans Spirits for to recreate ; And Oyle his Face for to exhilarate . The sappy Cedars tall like stately Towers . Highflying Birds doe harbour in their Bowers : The holy Storkes that are the Trauellers , Choose for to dwell and build within the Firs : The climing Goats hang on steep Mountaines side ; The digging Conies in the Rocks doe bide . The Moone , so constant in Inconstancy , Doth rule the Monethly seasons orderly : The Sunne , Eye of the World , doth know his race , And when to shew , and when to hide his face . Thou makest darknesse , that it may be Night , When as the Sauage Beasts , that flye the Light , ( As conscious of Mans hatred ) leaue their Den , And range abroad , secur'd from Sight of Men. Then doe the Forrests ring of Lions roaring , That aske their meat of God , their strengthrestoring ; But when the Day appeares , they backe doe flye , And in their Dens againe doe lurking lye . Then Man goes forth to labour in the Field , Whereby his Grounds more rich encrease may yeeld . O Lord , thy Prouidence sufficeth all , Thy Goodnesse not restrain'd , but generall Ouer thy Creatures , the whole Earth doth flow With thy great Largesse pour'd forth here below . Nor is it Earth alone exalts thy Name , But Seas and streame likewise doe spread the same . The rowling Seas vnto the Lot doe fall , Of Beasts innumerable great and small : There doe the stately Ships plow vp the Flouds , The greater Naules looke like walking woods : The Fishes there farre voyages doe make , To diuers shores their Iourney they doe take : There hast thou set the great Leuiathan , That makes the Seas to seeth like boyling Pan. All these doe aske of thee their Meat to liue , Which in due season thou to them dost giue . Ope thou thy Hand , and then they haue good fare ; Shut thou thy Hand , and then they troubled are . All Life , and Spirit , from thy Breath proceed , Thy word doth all things generate and feed ; If thou withdraw'st it , then they cease to bee , And straight returne to Dust and Vanitie : But when thy Breath thou do'st send forth againe , Then all things doe renew , and spring amaine ; So that the Earth but lately desolate , Doth now returne vnto the former State : The glorious Maiesty of God aboue , Shall euer raigne , in Mercy , and in Loue : God shall reioyce , all his faire workes to see , For , as they come from him , all perfect bee . The Earth shall quake , if ought his wrath prouoke , Let him but touch the Mountaines , they shall smoke . As long as Life doth last , I Hymnes will sing , With chearefull voice , to the eternall King : As long as I haue beeing , I will praise The works of God , and all his wondrous waies . I know that he my words will not despise ; Thanks giuing is to him a Sacrifice . But as for Sinners , they shall be destroid From off the Earth , their places shall be void . Let all his Works praise him with one accord ; Oh praise the Lord , my Soule ; praise ye the Lord. The Translation of the 126. Psalme . WHen God return'd vs graciously Vnto our Natiue Land , We seem'd as in a Dreame to be And in a Maze to stand . The Heathen likewise they could say , The God , that these men serue , Hath done great Things for them this Day , Their Nation to preserue . T is true , God hath pour'd out his grace On vs abundantly , For which we yeeld him Psalmes , and Praise , And thanks , with Iubilee . O Lord , turne our Captiuity , As Winds that blow at South , Doe poure the Tides with violence Backe to the Riuers Mouth . Who sowes in Teares , shall reape in ioy , The Lord doth so ordaine : So that his Seed be pure and good , His Haruest shall be gaine . The Translation of the 137. Psalme . WHen as we sate all sad and desolate , By Babylon , vpon the Riuers side , Eas'd from the Taskes , which in our captiue state , We were enforeed daily to abide , Our Harps we had brought with vs to the field , Some solace to our heauy Soules to yeeld . But soone we found , we fail'd of our account , For when our Mindes some freedome did obtaine , Straight-waies the memory of Sion Mount , Did cause afresh our wounds to bleed againe ; So that with present griefs , and future feares , Our Eyes burst forth into a streame of Teares . As for our Harps , since Sorrow strooke them dumbe , We hang'd them on the Willow Trees were neare ; Yet did our cruell Masters to vs come , Asking of vs some Hebrew Songs to heare ; Taunting vs rather in our Misery , Then much delighting in our Melody . Alas ( said we ) who can once force or frame , His grieued and oppressed Heart to sing , The Prayses of Iehoua's glorious Name , In banishment , vnder a forraine King ? In Sion is his Seat , and dwelling place , Thence doth he shew the brightnesse of his face . Hierusalem , where God his Throne hath set , Shall any Hower absent thee from my minde ? Then let my right Hand quite her skill forget , Then let my voice , and words , no passage finde ; Nay if I doe not thee prefer in all , That in the compasse of my thoughts can fall . Remember thou , ô Lord , the cruell cry Of Edoms Children , which did ring and sound , Inciting the Chaldaeans Cruelty , Downe with it , downe with it , euen vnto the ground . In that good day , repay it vnto them , When thou shalt visit thy Hierusalem . And thou , o Babylon , shalt haue thy turne By iust Reuenge , and happy shall he bee , That thy proud Walls and Towers shall wast and burne , And as thou did'st by vs , so doe by thee . Yea happy he , that takes thy childrens Bones , And dasheth them against the pauement Stones . The Translation of the 149. Psalme . O Sing a new Song , to our God aboue , Auoid profane ones , 't is for holy Quire : Let Israel sing Songs of holy Loue To him that made them , with their Hearts on fire : Let Sions Sonnes lift vp their Voice , and sing Carolls and Anthems to their Heauenly King. Let not your voice alone his praise forth tell , But moue withall , and praise him in the Dance ; Cymbals and Harps let them be tuned well , 'T is he that doth the Poores estate aduance : Doe this not onely on the solemne daies , But on your secret Beds your Spirits raise . O let the Saints beare in their Mouth his Praise , And a two edged Sword drawne in their Hand , Therewith for to reuenge the former Daies , Vpon all Nations , that their Zeale withstand ; To binde their Kings in chaines of Iron strong , And manacle their Nobles for their wrong . Expect the time , for 't is decreed in Heauen ; Such Honour shall vnto his Saints be giuen . FINIS .