Psal 27 (MS. Fairfax 40, The Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford)

Transcription

Why should I feare of whom affraid sence on
The Lord depends light life & saluation
When wicked men w^th egar spite was bent
To seeke my fall themselues fel downe at lengh lenght
Such Should such encamp about me or war proclame
Me no feare should seaze me but confident remaine
If one thing Lord thou-oudst grant to desire'd of me
My dweling might w^thin thy mantions be
For t'is my soules delight ô what would I giue
Such beauty to behold all days I liue
And ther be hid when stormes about me moue
As in safe pauillion safe of thy secret loue
or on some rock w^th topp aspiring high
Sitt ther secure when Foes about me lie
Then to thy house I will my offrings bring
The holy costs^[note] of ioy & prayses sing
Let Doe not thy in mercys Lord reiect my voyce
Seek ye my face say'st thou I make't my choyce
Hide not thy face in cloudy frownes as men
Thy seruant thou hast help'd leave me not then
Nor yitt for sake me Lord though all else doe
Though my father leaue me & my mother too
Keepe me from erring paths & doe thou lead
Me in the way thou-wouldst haue me to tread
Lett not the subtill foe haue's will so much
To breath his spite or once myn honor touch
W^th forged lies but here I'ad surely faild
Had I not w^th thy mercys beene impail'd
Wait on the lord take courage then my hart
Wait 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 life and salvation.
When wicked men with eager spite was bent
To seek my fall, themselves fell down at length.
Should such encamp about me, war proclaim,
No fear should sieze, but [I will] confident remain.
If one thing, Lord, thou'ldst grant, desired of me,
My dwelling might within thy mansions be,
For t'is my soul's delight. What would I give
Such beauty to behold all days I live,
And there be hid when storms about me move,
As safe pavillion of thy secret love;
Or on some rock with top aspiring high
Sit there secure when foes about me lie?
Then to thy house I will my off'rings bring,
The holy costs of joy and praises sing.
Do not in [they] mercies, Lord, reject my voice.
"Seek ye my face", say'st thou: I make't my choice.
Hide not thy face in cloudy frowns, as men;
Thy servant thou hast help'd, leave me not then.
Nor yet forsake me, Lord, though all else do,
Though father leave me and my mother too.
Keep me from erring paths and do thou lead
Me in the way thou'ldst have me to tread.
Let not the subtle foe have's will so much,
To breathe his spite or once mine honor touch
With forged lies. But here I'd surely failed
Had I not with thy mercies been impail'd.
Wait on the Lord, take courage then my heart.
Wait still on him. Let this then be my part.