Psal 40 (MS. Fairfax 40, The Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford)
Transcription
Thou herdst me Lord when I wth patience stayd
When in deepe troubles sunke thou broughts me out
My standing sure as on a rock thou'as made
New songes of prayse thou has put in my mouth
I saw & feard & trusted Lord in thee
By frownes nor fauours would Iperuerted be
Lord the high acts of grace Lord thou o Lord hast done
And thoughts of good to me exceeds account
To tell them all it is too great a sum̃e
The rules of Art they doe soe far surmount
No sacred offriengs would for this suffice
Nor dost thou expect discharge of sacrifice
To doe thy will o god wth ioy I come
For In heauens recorde this is said of me
To teach thy sacred Lawes, Lo, I haue done
In greatest thronges I haue reuealed thee
Nor haue concealed wthin my selfe that loue
For sauing soules, this first in thee did moue
Thy goodness Lord & mercy only can
Me from innumarable ills preserue
My sin's preuaild & I deiected am
Haire may be numbred here noe numbers serue
Helpe Lord wth speed or else my hart will faile
Be pleas'd to Saue me wth speed & be thou my baile
Let them together in to confusion fall
That in ther euel thoughts my soule would wrong
For ther reward let shame be to them all
That make in my disgrace, Aha, ther songe
All thyn wth ioy will in thy prayse accorde
Though I vnworthy am, yitt hast to saue me lord
Modernized Text
Thou heard'st me, Lord, when I with patience stayed;
When in deep troubles sunk, thou broughts me out.
My standing sure as on a rock thou'as made;
New songs of praise thou has put in my mouth.
I saw and feard and trusted, Lord, in thee,
By frowns nor favours would perverted be.
The high acts of grace thou, oh Lord, hast done
And thoughts of good to me exceeds account.
To tell them all it is too great a sum,
The rules of art they do so far surmount.
No sacred off'rings would for this suffice,
Nor dost expect discharge of sacrifice.
To do thy will, oh God, with joy I come,
For in heaven's record this is said of me.
To teach thy sacred lawes, Lo, I have done;
In greatest throngs I have revealéd thee,
Nor have concealed within myself that love
For saving souls: this first in thee did move.
Thy goodness, Lord, and mercy only can
Me from innumerable ills preserve.
My sin's prevailed and I dejected am.
Hair may be numb'red: here no numbers serve.
Help, Lord, with speed or else my heart will fail;
Be pleased to save me and be thou my bail.
Let them together in confusion fall
That in their evil thoughts my soul would wrong.
For their reward let shame be to them all
That make in my disgrace, Aha, their song.
All thine with joy will in thy praise accord;
Though I unworthy am, yet save me, Lord.
