Psal 35 (MS. Fairfax 40, The Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford)
Transcription
Lord when wth oposistions here I light
Plead thou my cause wth them against me fight
Wth armed powre thou Champian-like wthstand
Those that opress wth sheild & speare in hand
Let them retire wth shame my hurt designe
And driue them out as chaff before the wind
In ways of darkness set ther stumbling feet
Who saught my harme reuenging Angels meett
Let ruing come of wch they had noe thought
In ther owne mischefes let themselues be brought
So shall my boones & ioyfull soule declare
To theey in goodness lord wth whom none can compare
The poore from him these them who doe in powre exceed
And them from spoylers saue that stands in need
They layd things vnknowne falsely to my charge
For good it greeud my soule to' have such ill reward
When they lay sick I morning weeds put on
My prayres againe returnd to my afliction
So frendly to them my comportment was
Bow'd downe wth greef as one some sad cause has
But when to me some sad an aduerse thing did chance
Wth ioy they mett the abiects too did dance
Reproachful mockers att feasts my' honor tare
And to gnash ther teeth on me did not spare forbeare
Receauescue my soule how long wilt thou looke on
From ther malice lord redeeme saue thy holy one
Then 'fore the' assembly I'le pay the thanks I owe
Before much people I'le thy goodness show
Wth out some cause let not myn enimy
O're me triumph wth his false-winking eye
Such is ther malice as cannott afford
To those thatt would liue quiet one good word
This haue we seene ô Lord & hard them say
Wth wide mouth'd scoffes att vs Aha Aha
Awake Lord to iudgment this thou didst se
Break silence then & be not far from me
Lord By thy iust rules lett my cause be tried
Lett them not say Aha in sweling pride
But cloth them wth shame who says wth great delight
Say he's in our powre now let's destroy him quite
As for the fauorours of my rightious cause
When they seet clered will giue thee due applause
Ô let me prayse thee then both day & night
Who in thy seruants good takes such delight
Modernized Text
Lord, when with oppositions here I light,
Plead thou my cause with them against me fight.
With arméd power thou champion-like withstand
Those that oppress with shield and spear in hand.
Let them retire with shame [that] my hurt design
And drive them out as chaff before the wind.
In ways of darkness set their stumbling feet;
Who saught my harm, revenging angels meet.
Let ruin come of which they had no thought:
In their own mischiefs let themselves be brought.
So shall my bones and joyful soul declare
Thy goodness, Lord, with whom none can compare.
The poor from them who do in power exceed,
And them from spoilers save that stands in need.
They laid things unknown falsely to my charge;
It grieved my soul t'ave such ill reward.
When they lay sick I mourning weeds put on;
My prayers returned to my affliction.
So friendly to them my comportment was,
Bowed down with grief as one some sad cause has;
But when to me an adverse thing did chance
With joy they met; the abjects too did dance;
Reproachful mockers at feasts m'honor tore,
To gnash ther teeth on me did not forbear.
Rescue my soul! How long wilt thou look on?
From their malice, Lord, save thy holy one.
Then 'fore th'assembly I'll pay thanks I owe,
Before much people I'll thy goodness show.
Without some cause let not mine enemy
O'er me triumph with his false-winking eye.
Such is their malice as cannott afford,
To those that would live quiet, one good word.
This have we seen, oh Lord, and heard them say
With wide-mouthed scoffs at us: "Aha Aha!"
Awake, Lord, to judgment: this thou didst see.
Break silence, then, and be not far from me.
Lord, by thy just rules let my cause be tried;
Let them not say "Aha!" in swelling pride,
But clothe them with shame who says with great delight
"He's in our power now: let's destroy him quite".
As for the favourers of my righteous cause,
When they see't cleared will give thee due applause.
Oh, let me praise thee, then, both day and night
Who in thy servants good takes such delight.
