A Songe of Praise Psal 8 (Add. MS. 11744, British Library)

Transcription

Earth praise the Lord him reuerance beare
Not only for his thunders that we heare
Att w^ch poore mortals stand affraid
But for the glorious maruells which
W^th such splendor doth the world inrich
They are the workes his hands hath maid

His Prouidential love let's sing
That as w^th a plentious flowing spring
Our barren soules he watred did
The east the west tasts of his care
Hott Africk nor the frezing Beare
From his al seing eye is hid

Was't not he who did please
W^th seueral kinds to store the seas
Of Fish innumerable, nay more,
Made Woods & Hills that Cattle yeelds
Gaue flowry pasturs & the verdent feilds
That bring both corne & wine great store

But how doe we his Justice wronge
To se we still in sin grow stronge
And day from day his patience moue
But as a gentle father ready is
To excuse the faults he sees in his
Such are the tokens of his loue

In vs affections ô tis strange
With our light humour suden change
As in a moment they were old
They w^th the wind is easy driuen
But his is always firme & euen
And to Eternity doth hold

Modernized Text

Earth, praise the Lord, him reverance bear,
Not only for his thunders that we hear,
At which poor mortals stand afraid,
But for the glorious marvels which
With such splendour doth the world enrich:
They are the works his hands hath made.

His providential love let's sing
That, as with a plentious flowing, spring:
Our barren souls he watered did;
The east, the west tastes of his care;
Hot Afric nor the freezing bear
From his all-seeing eye is hid.

Was't not he who did please
With several kinds to store the seas
Of fish innumerable, nay more,
Made woods and hills that cattle yield,
Gave flowery pastures and the verdant fields
That bring both corn and wine great store.

But how do we his justice wrong
To see we still in sin grow strong
And day from day his patience move,
But as a gentle father ready is
To excuse the faults he sees in his,
Such are the tokens of his love.

In us affections, oh 'tis strange,
With our light humour sudden change
As in a moment they were old.
They with the wind is easy driven,
But his is always firm and even
And to Eternity doth hold.

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