| |
Quam dilecta tabernacula.
HOW 1 pleasant is thy dwelling-place, | |
| O Lord of hostes, to me! | |
| The tabernacles of thy grace, | |
| How pleasant, Lord, they be! | |
| My soule doth long full sore to goe | 5 |
| Into thy courtes abroad; | |
| My heart doth lust, my flesh also, | |
| In thee the liuing Lord. | |
| |
| The sparrowes find a roome to rest, | |
| And saue themselues from wrong; | 10 |
| And eke the swallow hath a nest | |
| Wherein to keepe her young. | |
| These birdes full nigh thine altar may | |
| Haue place to sit and sing: | |
| O Lord of hosts, thou art, I say, | 15 |
| My God and eke my King. | |
| |
| O they be blessed that may dwell | |
| Within thy house alwaies; | |
| For they all times thy facts do tell, | |
| And euer giue thee praise. | 20 |
| Yea, happy sure likewise are they | |
| Whose stay and strength thou art; | |
| Which to thy house do minde the way, | |
| And seeke it in their heart. | |
| |
| As they goe through the vale of teares, | 25 |
| They dig vp fountaines still; | |
| That as a spring it all appeares, | |
| And thou their pits doest fill. | |
| From strength to strength they walke full fast, | |
| No faintnes there shall be; | 30 |
| And so the God of gods at last | |
| In Sion they do see. | |
| |
| O Lord of hostes, to me giue heede, | |
| And heare when I doe pray; | |
| And let it through thine eares proceede, | 35 |
| O Jacob’s God, I say. | |
| O Lord our shield, of thy good grace | |
| Regard, and so draw neare; | |
| Regard, I say, behold the face | |
| Of thine annoynted deare. | 40 |
| |
| For why? within thy courts one day | |
| Is better to abide, | |
| Then other where to keepe or stay | |
| A thousand daies beside. | |
| Much rather would I keepe a doore | 45 |
| Within the house of God, | |
| Then in the tents of wickednesse | |
| To settle mine abode. | |
| |
| For God the Lord, light and defence, | |
| Will grace and worship giue; | 50 |
| And no good thing shall he withold | |
| From them that purely liue. | |
| O Lord of hostes, that man is blest, | |
| And happy sure is he, | |
| That is perswaded in his brest | 55 |
| To trust all times in thee. | |
