Judica me Domine. Ps.35.I.H.

Lord plead my cause against my foes,
confound their force and might:
Fight on my part against all those
that seek with me to fight.

2 Lay hand upon the spear and shield,
thyself in armor dress:
Stand up for me, and fight the field,
to keep me from distress.

3 Gird on thy sword, and stop the way,
mine enemies to withstand:
That thou unto my soul maist say,
lo I thy help at hand.

4 Confound them with rebuke and blame,
that seek my soul to spill:
Let them turn back, and fly with shame,
that think to work me ill.

5 Let them disperse and fly abroad,
as wind doth drive the dust:
And that the Angel of our God,
their might away may thrust.

6 Let all their ways be void of light,
and slippery like to fall:
And send thine Angel with thy might,
to persecute them all.

7 For why? without my fault they have
in secret set their gin:
And for no cause have digged a cave
to catch my soul therein.

8 When they think least, and have no care,
O Lord destroy them all:
Let them be trapped in their own snare,
and in their mischief fall.

9 And let my soul, my heart, and voice,
in God have joy and wealth:
That in the Lord I may rejoice,
and in his saving health.

10 And then my bones shall speak and say,
my parts shall all agree:
O Lord, though they do seem full gay,
what man is like to thee?

11 Thou did’st defend the weak from them
that are both stout and strong:
And rid the poor from wicked men,
that spoil and do them wrong.

12 My cruel foes against me rise,
to witness things untrue:
And to accuse me they devise,
of that I never knew.

13 Where I to them do owe good will,
they quite me with disdain,
That they should pay my good with ill,
my soul doth fore complain:

14 When they were sick I mourned therefore
and clad myself in sack:
With fasting I did faint full sore,
to pray I was not slack.

15 As they had been my brethren dear,
I did myself behave:
As one that maketh woeful cheer,
about his mother’s grave.

16 But they at my disease did joy,
and gather on a rout:
Yea abject slaves at me did toy,
with mocks and checks full stout,

17 The belly gods and flattering train,
that all good things deride:
At me do grin with great disdain,
and pluck their mouths aside.

18 Lord when wilt thou amend this gear
why doest thou stay and pause;
O rid my soul mine only dear,
out of these Lions’ claws.

19 And then I will give thanks to thee,
before thy Church always:
And whereas most of people be,
there will I show thy praise.

20 Let not my foes prevail on me,
which hate me for no fault:
Nor yet to wink or turn their eye,
that causeless me assault.

21 Of peace no word they think or say,
Their talk is all untrue:
They still consult, and would betray
all those that peace ensue.

22 With open mouths they run at me,
they gape, they laugh, they fleer:
Well, well, say they, our eye doth see
the thing that we desire.

23 But Lord thou seest what ways they take
cease not this gear to mend:
Be not far off nor me forsake,
as men that fail their friend,

24 Awake, arise, and stir abroad,
defend me in my right:
Revenge my cause, my Lord, my God,
and aid me with thy might.

25 According to thy righteousness,
my Lord God set me free:
And let them not their pride express,
nor triumph over me.

26 Let not their hearts rejoice and cry,
there, there, this gear goes trim:
Nor give them cause to say on high,
we have our will on him.

27 Confound them with rebuke and shame,
that joy when I do mourn:
And pay them home with spite and blame,
that brag at me with scorn.

28 Let them be glad and eke rejoice,
which love mine upright way.
And they all times with heart and voice,
shall praise the Lord and say,

29 Great is the Lord and doth excel,
for why? he doth delight
To see his servants prosper well,
that is his pleasant sight.

30 Wherefore my tongue I will apply,
thy righteousness to praise:
Unto the Lord my God will I,
sing laud and thanks always.