Psal 27 (Add. MS. 11744, British Library)

Transcription

Why should I feare of whom affraid sence on
The Lord depends my Light Life & my Saluation
When wicked men w^th egar spite was bent
To seek my fall themselues downe fel at lenght
Shuld such incamp about me or war proclãe
No feare my hart should sease but confident remain
If one thing Lord thou w'olst grant desired by me
In thy sacred temple my dweling ther might be
For t'is my souls delight what would I giue
Such beautys to behold all the days I liue
And ther be hid when stormes about me moue
As in a peuillian safe of thy secret loue
Or on some rock w^th top aspiring hie
Ther sitt secure when enimys about me lie
Then to thy house I will offrings bring
Holy costs^[note] of ioy & prayses to thee sing
Let not thy mercys Lord reiect my voyce
Seeke ye my face sayst thou my hart makes it its choyce
Hide not thy face in clouded frownes as men
Thy seruant thou hast helpt leave me not then
Nor yitt forsake me Lord though al else do
Yea though my father leaue me & my mother too
Keepe me from erring paths & leade
Me in the way thou wouldst haue me tread
Let not the subtle foe haue's will so much
To breath his spite or once myn' honor touch
W^th forged lies butt here I had surely failed
Had I nott w^th thy mercys beene impailed
Waite on the lord take courage thē my hart
Waite still on him let this then be my part

costs. The word used in the original Hebrew text translates as "sacrifices" (as in the Geneva Bible translation, 21:6). Fairfax instead employs the phrase "Holy costs", which distinguishes his "offrings" of sung "ioy & prayses" from any implication of ritualized slaughter. Fairfax's "costs" are the expenditure of devotional effort. [back to text]

Modernized Text

Why should I fear, of whom [be] afraid, since on
The Lord depends my light, life and my salvation?
When wicked men with eager spite was [were] bent
To seek my fall, themselves down fell at length.
Should such encamp about me or war proclaim
No fear my heart should seize but confident remain
If one thing, Lord, thou would'st grant desired by me:
In thy sacred temple my dweling there might be,
For t'is my soul's delight. What would I give
Such beauties to behold all the days I live
And there be hid when storms about me move,
As in a pavillion safe of thy secret love,
Or on some rock with top aspiring high
There sit secure when enemies about me lie.
Then to thy house I will offerings bring,
Holy costs of joy and praises to thee sing.
Let not thy mercies, Lord, reject my voice!
Seek ye my face: say'st thou, "My heart makes it its choice!"
Hide not thy face in clouded frowns as men!
Thy servant thou hast helped: leave me not then,
Nor yet forsake me, Lord, though all else do,
Yea, though my father leave me and my mother too.
Keep me from erring paths and lead
Me in the way thou would'st have me tread.
Let not the subtle foe have [hi]s will so much
To breathe his spite or once mine honour touch
With forged lies. But here I had surely failed
Had I not with thy mercies been impaled.
Wait on the Lord: take courage, then, my heart!
Wait still on him: let this then be my part.