Benedicam Dom. Ps.34.T.S.

I will give laud and honor both
unto the Lord always:
And eke my mouth forevermore
shall speak unto his praise.

2 I do delight to laud the Lord
in soul, and eke in voice:
That humble men and mortified
may hear, and so rejoice.

3 Therefore see that ye magnify,
with me the living Lord:
And let us now exalt his name,
together with one accord.

4 For I my self besought the Lord,
he answered me again:
And me delivered incontinent
from all my fear and pain.

5 Who so they be that him behold,
shall see his light most clear:
Their countenance shall not be dashed,
the need it not to fear.

6 This silly wretch for some relief
unto the Lord did call:
Who did him hear without delay,
and rid him out of thrall.

7 The Angel of the Lord doth pitch
his tents in every place:
To save all such as fear the Lord,
that nothing them deface.

8 Taste and consider well therefore,
that God is good and just:
O happy man that maketh him,
his only stay and trust.

9 Fear ye the Lord, ye holy ones,
above all earthly thing:
For they that fear the living Lord
are sure to lack nothing.

10 The Lions shall be hunger-bit,
and pined with famine much,
But as for them that fear the Lord
no lack shall be to such.

11 Come near therefore my children dear,
and to my words give ear:
I shall you teach the perfect way
how ye the Lord should fear.

12 Who is the man that would live long
and lead a blessed life?

13 See thou refrain thy tongue and lips
from all deceit and strife.

14 Turn back thy face from doing ill
and do the godly deed:
Inquire for peace and righteousness,
and follow it with speed.

15 For why? the eyes of God above
upon the just are bent:
His ears likewise do hear the ‘plaint
of the poor innocent.

16 But he doth frown and bend the brows,
upon the wicked train:
And curse away the memory
that should of them remain.

17 But when the just do call and cry,
the Lord doth hear them so:
That out of pain and misery
forthwith he lets them go.

18 The Lords is kind, and straight at hand,
to such as be contrite:
He saves also the sorrowful,
the meek and poor in spirit,

19 Full many be the miseries
that righteous men do suffer:
But out of all adversities
the Lord doth them deliver.

20 The Lord doth so preserve and keep
his very bones alway,
That not so much as one of them
doth perish or decay.

21 The sin shall slay the wicked man,
which he himself hath wrought:
And such as hate the righteous man
shall soon be brought to naught.

22 But they that serve the living Lord,
the Lord doth save them sound:
And who that put their trust in him,
nothing shall them confound.