The Whole Booke of Psalmes ‎#38a

38a. Psalme 10

1 What is the cause that thou O Lord,
art now so far from thine?
And keepest close thy countenance
from us this troublous time?

2 The poore do perish by the proud,
and wicked mens desire:
Let them be taken in the craft,
that they themselves conspire.

3 For in the lust of his owne heart,
the ungodly doth delight:
So that the wicked praise himselfe,
and doth the lord despight.

4 He is so proud that right and wrong
he setteth all apart:
nay, nay, there is no God saith he,
for thus he thinkes in heart.

5 Becuase his waies doe prosper well,
he doth thy lawes neglect:
And with a blast doth puffe against
such as would him correct.

6 Tush, tush (saith he) I have no dread,
least mine estate should change:
And why? for all adversitie,
to him is very strange.

7 His mouth is full of cursednesse,
of fraud, deceit and guile:
Under his tongue doth mischiefe sit,
and travaile all the while.

8 He lyeth hid in wayes and holes,
to slay the innocent:
Against the poore that passe him by
his cruell eyes are bent.

9 And like a Lyon privily
lyes lurking in his den:
if he may snare them in his net,
to spoyle poore simple men.

10 And for the nonce full craftily
hee coucheth downe I say:
so are great heaps of poor men made
by his strong power his pray:

11 Tush, God forgetteth this (saith he)
therefore I may be bold:
His countenance is cast aside,
he doth it not behold:

12 Arise O Lord, O God, in whom
the poore mans hope doth rest:
Lift up thy hand, forget not Lord,
the poore that be opprest.

13 What blasphemy is this too thee,
Lord dost thou not abhorre it?
To heare the wicked in their hearts
say, tush, thou car'st not for it?

14 But thou seest all this wickedness,
and well dost understand:
That friendlesse and poore fatherlesse
are left into thy hand.

15 Of wicked and malicious men
then breake the power for ever:
That they with their iniquity
may perish altogether.

16 The Lord shall raigne for evermore,
as King and God alone:
And he will chase the Heathen folke
out of his land each one.

17 Thou hear'st O Lord the poore mens plaints,
their prayers and request:
Their hearts thou wilt confirm untill
thine eares to heare be prest.

18 To judge the poore and fatherlesse,
and helpe them in their right:
That they may be no more opprest
with men of worldly might.

Text Information

• First Line: What is the cause that thou O Lord
• Title: Psalme 10
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1621
• Notes: Public domain.

Tune Information

• Name: GLOCESTER TUNE
• harmonizer: Joh. Tomkins
• Incipit: 15321 45632 34535
• Key: F Major