Exaudi Domine

O Lord give eare to my just cause

Author: Thomas Sternhold
Published in 2 hymnals

Representative Text

1 O Lord, give ear to my just cause,
attend unto my cry,
And hear the prayer I offer up
to thee unfeignedly;

2 And let the judgment of my cause
proceed always from thee,
And let thine eyes behold and clear
truth and simplicity.

3 Thou hast well try'd me in the night,
and yet could'st nothing find,
That I have spoken with my tongue,
that was not in my mind.

4 As for the works of wicked men,
and paths perverse and ill,
For love of thy most holy Name
I have refrained still.

5 Then in thy paths that be most pure
guide me, Lord and preserve,
That from the way wherein I walk
my steps may never swerve.

6 For I do call to thee, O Lord,
surely thou wilt me aid;
Then hear my prayer, and weigh right well
the words that I have said.

7 O thou, the Saviour of all them
that put their trust in thee,
Declare thy strength on them that spurn
against thy Majesty.

8 O keep me as thou wouldest keep
the apple of thine eye,
And under cover of thy wings
defend me secretly.

The Second Part

9 From wicked men that trouble me,
and daily me annoy,
And from my foes that go about
my soul for to destroy:

10 Who wallow in their worldly wealth,
and are so full and fat,
That in their pride they do not spare
to speak they care not what.

11 They lie in wait where I should pass,
with craft me to confound;
And musing mischief in their minds,
to cast me to the ground:

12 Much like a lion greedily
that would his prey embrace,
Or lurking like a lion's whelp
within some secret place.

13 Up, Lord, in haste, prevent my foe,
and cast him at my feet;
Save thou my soul from the ill man,
and with thy sword him smite.

14 Deliver me, Lord, by thy power,
out of these tyrants hands,
Who now so long time reigned have,
and kept us in their bands;

15 I mean from worldly men, who do
in worldly goods abound,
That have no hope or joy but what
in this life can be found.

16 Thou of thy store their bellies fill'st
with pleasure to their mind;
Their children have enough, and leave
the rest to theirs behind.

17 But as for me, I will behold
thy face in righteousness,
And shall be satisfy'd when I
awake with thy likeness.

Source: The Whole Book of Psalms #XVII

Author: Thomas Sternhold

Thomas Sternhold was Groom of the Robes to Henry VIII and Edward VI. With Hopkins, he produced the first English version of the Psalms before alluded to. He completed fifty-one; Hopkins and others composed the remainder. He died in 1549. Thirty-seven of his psalms were edited and published after his death, by his friend Hopkins. The work is entitled "All such Psalms of David as Thomas Sternhold, late Groome of the King's Majestye's Robes, did in his Lyfetime drawe into Englyshe Metre." Of the version annexed to the Prayer Book, Montgomery says: "The merit of faithful adherence to the original has been claimed for this version, and need not to be denied, but it is the resemblance which the dead bear to the living." Wood, in his "Athe… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: O Lord give eare to my just cause
Title: Exaudi Domine
Author: Thomas Sternhold

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 2 of 2)
TextPage Scan

The Whole Book of Psalms #XVII

TextPage Scan

The Whole Booke of Psalmes #6c

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us