Psal 39 (MS. Fairfax 40, The Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford)
Transcription
To keepe thy ways & also my tongue from sin
I In my thoughts I was fully thius resolued
To hold my peace when company I was in
From Refraine conuerse refrained till tongue tied strings disolud
Out of my musing brest the flames then brake
When'tt itt could hold noe longer thus I speake
Lord let me know the time wch thou'ast sett
My life shal vp to its periode come
Of what lenght it is I may knowlidge gett
I find it nothing when the time is run
What then is man to giue him right his due
He's but a vapor so vaine is he in shew
Yea soe vnwise & his ambition's such
For gitting welth, to toyle himselfe in vaine
But knowes he not when he'as gotten much
Of all his trauell who shall reape the gaine
On thee ô Lord I'le trust my sins remitt
When fooles deride reproue them Lord for itt
If so they doe yitt I will silent be
Sence t'was thy will they that they this thing should doe
But Lord take away thy rod away ô Lord from me
Or I am else shall be consumed wth the blow
When man for sin doth thy displeasure finde
What vainer thing then he can ther bee seene
His goodly frame away to naught doth pine
As if noe beauty in itt ther had beene
Ô spare me'a little before I be noe more
A pilgrame here as this that went before
Modernized Text
To keep thy ways, also my tongue from sin,
I In my thoughts was fully thus resolved,
To hold my peace when company I was in,
Refrain converse till tongue-tied strings disolved.
Out of my musing breast the flames then brake;
When it could hold no longer, thus I spake:
Lord, let me know the time which thou'ast set
My life shall up to its period come,
Of what length it is I may knowledge get.
I find it nothing when the time is run.
What then is man, to give him right his due?
He's but a vapor, so vain is he in show.
Yea, so unwise and his ambition's such
For getting wealth to toil himselfe in vain,
But knows he not when he'as gotten much.
Of all his travail who shall reap the gain?
On thee, oh Lord, I'l trust my sin's remit.
When fools deride reprove them, Lord, for it.
If so they do, yet I will silent be
Since t'was thy will that they this thing should do,
But take away thy rod, oh Lord, from me
Or I shall be consuméd with the blow.
When man for sin doth thy displeasure find
What vainer thing than he can there be seen?
His goodly frame away to naught doth pine,
As if no beauty in it there had been.
Oh spare m'a little before I be no more,
A pilgrim here as this that went before.
