The Psalms of David in Meter, Title page – To the reader
THE PSALMES OF DAVID IN MEETER: By Mr. ZACHARY BOYD, Preacher of GODS Word.
The ſecond edition.
PSAL. 119. verſ. 54.
Thy ſtatutes have been my ſongs in the houſe of my pilgrimage.
PSAL. 34. verſ. 2.
foreign
Printed at Glaſgow, by George Anderſon, 1646.
To the Reader.
IN this ſecond edition where it might be conveniently done, I have made the paraphraſe ſho…ter; but by reaſon that a work of this ſort is for a people and children who are rude, whereof many can not read, but ſing after the line is read, I have ſhunned to be too conciſe, leſt brevitie ſhould breed obſcuritie and many ſhould ſing without underſtanding: where two verſes might be conveniently joined in four lines, I have ſtriven to do it; but when I ſaw that either it made the verſe harſh or obſcure, or that it behooved me to ſeeke other wordes then the words of the text, I rather choiſed to make the paraphraſe a little wider, for to keep ſo far as I could the wordes of the text, which is the moſt acurat verſion, in my judgement, that hitherto hath beene.
In ſome places obſcure, I have ſtriven to make the paraphraſe like a commentarie, as for example, PSAL. 76.4. Thou art more glorious and excellent then the mountaines of prey.
By thoſe mountains of prey, the Pſalmiſt underſtands the enemies of Gods people that made the mountains their strength, and from thence came to ſpoil them: like thoſe rebels and robbers that from the mountaines of Scotland have murdered and ſpoiled Gods Saints, and made a prey of them; but this is our comfort, GOD is more glorious and excellent then the mountains of prey; God at laſt will deſtroy them, for PSAL. 95.4. The ſtrength of the hills is his.
The Paraphraſe.
Thou ſurely art more glorious
and excellent alway,
Then the moſt mighty foes that be
in mountains ſeeking prey.
Likewiſe, PSAL. 87.7. As well ſingers as the players on inſtruments ſhal be there, All my ſprings are in thee: Thoſe laſt words, all my ſprings are in thee, are difficle to many; The Herbew is Col-majane bach, that is, Omnes fontes mei in te, that is, All my fountains or well-ſprings are in thee; By thoſe ſprings are understood the affections of the heart, whence ſpring out the praiſes of the Lord, as out of a fountaine.
The Paraphraſe.
Both ſingers there and players als
on inſtruments ſhall be,
All my beſt hearts affections
as well-ſprings are in theee.
So have I done in diverſe other places to make all clear and plain for the peoples uſe: As for ſome hard paſſages where I found great diverſitie of opinions of worthy learned men, ſuſpending my judgement, did ſtrive to keep the words of the text, as PSAL. 110.3. In the beauties of holineſſe, from the womb of the morning thou haſt the dew of thy youth.
Some take the beauties of holineſſe to be the ornaments of the Sanctuary: others referre them to the holy graces and vertues wherewithall the faithfull ſhould bee beautified.
As for thoſe words, From the womb of the morning thou haſt the dew of thy youth, they are very hard; Some by the womb of the morning underſtand the eſſence of the God-head, that was early in the morning, before the world was made denoting the eternall generation of Chriſt; This ſeemes to have beene the minde of the Septuagint, whoſe wordes are thoſe, Of the wombe before the morning Starre begat I thee, Some take thoſe words to be ſpoken of Chriſts man-hood, who had the dew of his birth of the obſcure wombe of the Virgin; Some, which I like beſt, interpret this of Christs Church, which is ſaid, From the wombe of the morning to have the dew of her youth, that is, as the dew in the morning, aire is bred, as in a a womb, and falleth downe in many drops, ſo the children of God, the elected Ones ſhall in the Church be borne in great number by thee preaching of the Goſpell: Others give other interpretations; becauſe of ſuch a diverſitie of opinions, I would not change a word of the text.
The Paraphraſe.
In beauties of great holineſſe
with a moſt pleaſant ſhew,
From the fair mornings womb thou haſt
ev…n of thy youth the dew.
Likewiſe, there is a great diverſitie of opinions concerning thoſe words, PSAL. 24.6. This is the generation of them that ſeek him: that ſeek thy face, O Jacob. In the Hebrew, it is Mebakſhe-Panecha-Jacob; Some turne it of Jacob, ſome in Jacob, and ſo refer it to … true Iſraelites; Others, as our new verſi… which is moſt acurat, hath O Jacob, me… ning, as it is well marked on the marge… O GOD of Jacob, which interpretatio… ſeemes most fitting for the wordes: I ha… keeped the wordes of the new verſion … ceived by our Church.
The Paraphraſe.
This is the generation now
of them that in each place
Him ſeek; O Jacob, that alwayes
do humbly ſeek thy face.
Thoſe ſecond labours as I did with th… former, I in all humilitie ſubmit to th… judgement of my reverend brethren in th… Miniſterie, The Spirits of the Prophets are ſubject to the Prophets 1 COR. 14.32.
THE PSALMES OF DAVID.
PSALME I.
BLeſt is the man that walks not in
th'ungodlies counſell ill,
Nor ſtands in wayes of ſinners, nor
in ſcorners ſeats ſit ſtill.
verse 2 But in the law of God the Lord
is alwayes his delight,
And alſo he doth meditate
in his law day and night.
…
…
… foorth
his … …uſly
His leaf alſo at any time …
not wither ſhall at all,
And whatſoever thing he doth
it proſper ſurely ſhall.
verse 4 The men ungodly are not ſo,
but in their wicked way
Are like the chaffe, which ſtormy wind
doth quickly drive away.
verse 5 Therefore th'ungodly ſhal not ſtand
before the Judges face;
Nor in the righteous company
the ſinners ſhall have place.
verse 6 For wel the Lord doth know the way
even of the righteous all:
But the way of ungodly men
moſt ſurely periſh ſhall.
PSAL. II.
WHy do the heathen fiercely rage,
and people als profane
Imagine in their fooliſh hearts
a thing that is moſt vain?
verse 2 Kings of the earth do ſet themſelves,
and Rulers that are heer,
'Gainſt GOD together counſell take,
and his Anointed dear.
verse 3 Let us their bands that are moſt ſtrong
aſunder break, they ſay;
And from us alſo all their cords
let us now caſt away.
verse 4 He that ſits in the heavens above
laugh at their folly ſhall,
The Lord in wrath ſhall them at laſt
have in deriſion all.
verse 5 Then to them ſhal he ſpeak in wrath,
and them vex ſore he will:
verse 6 Yet have I ſet my King upon
Sion, my holy Hill.
verse 7 Now the decree declare I will,
the LORD hath ſaid, to me,
Thou ſurely art my Son, this day
have I begotten thee.
verse 8 Ask of me, I'le the heathen give
for heritage to thee,
The utmoſt parts of all the earth
ſhall thy poſſeſſion be.
verse 9 With rod of yron in thy hand
thou ſhalt ſoon break them ſmall,
Thou like a potters veſſell ſhalt
in pieces daſh them all.
verse 10 Now therefore, O ye mighty kings,
be wiſe in what ye do,
And ye the judges of the earth
inſtructed be alſo.
verse 11 Serve ye now with a Sonly fear
the LORD your only choiſe;
With trembling alſo reverently
at his ſervice rejoice.
verse 12 Kiſſe ye the Son, leſt he with you
be angry ſtill alway,
And when his wrath but kindled is,
ye periſh from the way;
Moſt bleſſed ever are all they
that in their grief and ſmart
Do conſtantly on him rely,
and truſt with all their heart.
PSAL. III.
LOrd, how are they increaſed thus
that that ſore do trouble me.
They who againſt me now riſe up,
in number many be.
verse 2 There many be who in diſdain
thus of my ſoul do ſay,
For him in the almighty GOD,
there is no help alway.
verse 3 But thou, O LORD, moſt mighty art
a ſhield for me indeed,
My glory, and in troubles great
the lifter of mine head.
verse 4 Unto the LORD, I with my voice
in prayer cryed ſtill,
And he me heard then by and by
out of his holie hill.
verse 5 With confidence I laid me down,
and ſlept moſt quietlie,
I als awaked, for the LORD
alwayes ſuſtained me.
verse 6 I ſurely will not be afraid
of thouſands ten moſt ſtout
Of people, that have ſet themſelves
againſt me round about.
verse 7 A riſe, O LORD, ſave me my GOD
for thou my foes didſt ſmite
On the check bone: th'ungodlies teeth
thou brok'ſt in pieces quite.
verse 3 Salvation Surely doth unto
the Lord belong alone,
Thy bleſſing alſo plentifull
thy people is upon.
PSAL. IV.
O Thou GOD of my righteouſneſſe
when I do call give ear,
Inlarg'd thou haſt me from diſtreſſe,
my prayer in mercy hear.
verse 2 O ſons of men! How long will ye
my glory turn to ſhame?
How long will ye love vanitie,
and leeſing ſeek to frame?
verse 3 But know that for himſelf the Lord,
th'ungodly one and all
Hath ſet apart; the LORD will hear
when I unto him call.
verse 4 Stand now in aw and ſin no more,
and common ye with skill,
With your own heart upon your bed
and be ye alwayes ſtill,
verse 5 The ſacrifice of righteouſneſſe
now offer which is juſt,
And in the great and mighty Lord
put ye alwayes your truſt.
verse 6 Who will to us ſhew any good,
there many be that ſay?
LORD, of thy countenance the light
lift up on us alway.
verse 7 Thou ſurely gladneſſe in my heart
haſt put by thy good will,
More then in times their corns & wine
increaſed alwayes ſtill.
verse 8 I will both lay me down in peace,
and ſleep exceeding well,
For thou LORD only doſt me make
in ſafety for to dwell.