- It is a thing both good and mete
- to praise the highest Lord:
- And in thy name, O thou most high,
- to sing with one accord.
-
- 2 To show the kindness of the Lord
- betime ere day be light:
- And eke declare his truth abroad,
- when it doth draw to night.
-
- 3 Upon ten stringed instruments,
- on Lute and Harp so sweet:
- With all the mirth you can invent,
- of instruments most mete.
-
- 4 For thou hast made me to rejoice
- in things so wrought by thee:
- And I have joy in heart and voice
- thy handy works to see.
-
- 5 O Lord, how glorious and how great
- are all thy words so stout?
- So deeply are thy counsels set
- that none can try them out.
-
- 6 The man unwise hath not the wit
- this grace to pass to bring:
- And all such fools are nothing fit
- to understand this thing.
-
- 7 When so the wicked at their will,
- as grass do spring full fast:
- They when they flourish in their ill
- for ever shall be waste.
-
- 8 But thou art mighty Lord most high,
- yea, thou dost reign therefore:
- In every time eternally,
- both now and evermore.
-
- 9 For why? O Lord behold and see,
- behold thy foes I say:
- How all that work iniquity,
- shall perish and decay.
-
- 10 But thou like as an Unicorn,
- shalt lift my horn on high:
- With fresh and new prepared Oil,
- thine ‘nointed king am I.
-
- 11 And of my foes before mine eyes,
- shall see the fall and shame:
- Of all that up against me rise,
- mine ear shall hear the same.
-
- 12 The just shall flourish up on high,
- as Date trees bud and blow:
- And as the Cedars multiply,
- in Lebanon that grow.
-
- 13 For they are planted in the place,
- and dwelling of our God:
- Within his courts they spring apace,
- and flourish all abroad.
-
- 14 And in their age much fruit shall bring
- both fat and well beseen:
- And pleasantly both bud and spring,
- with boughs and branches green.
-
- 15 To show that God is good and just,
- and upright in his will:
- He is my rock, my hope, my trust,
- in him there is none ill.
