Lament (3)

I Am the Man who (scourged in thy wrath)
Haue in all sorrowes throughly tyred beene:
Into obscurity, he led me hath;
He brought me thither, where no light is seene:
And so aduerse himselfe to me he showes,
That all the day his hand doth me oppose.

My Flesh and Skinne with age, He tyred out.
He bruiz'd my bones, as they had broken bin.
He with a Wall enclosed me about.
With cares and labours he hath shut me in.
And me to such a place of darknesse led,
As those are in, that befor euer dead.

He shut me where I found no passage out,
And there my heauy Chaines vpon me laid.
Moreouer, though I loudly cryed out,
He tooke no heed at all for what I prayd:
My Way with hewed stones he stopped hath.
And left me wandring in a winding Path.

He was to me like some way-lying Beare.
Or as a Lyon that doth lurke vnseene.
My course he hindring, me in pieces teare,
Till I quite ruin'd, and layd waste had beene.
His Bowe he bended, and that being bent.
I, was the marke at which his Arrow went.

His Arrowes from his Quiuer forth he caught,
And through my very Reines he made them passe.
Eu'n mine owne people set me then at naught;
And, all the day; their sporting song I was.
From him, my fill of bitternesse I had;
And, me, with Worm-wood likewise, drunke he made .

With stones, my teeth he all to peeces brake;
He, Dust and Ashes ouer me hath strowne;
All rest, he from my weary soule did take,
As if, contentment I had neuer none.
And then, I cryed; Oh! I am vndone;
All my dependance on the Lord is gone.

Oh minde thou my afflictions, and my care;
My miseries, my worm-wood, and my gall:
For, they still fresh in my remembrance are,
And downe in me my humbled soule doth fall.
I, this forget not; And when this I minde,
Some helpe againe, I doe begin to finde.

It is thy mercy Lord, that we now be;
For, had thy pitty fail'd, not one had liu'd.
The Faithfulnesse is great, that is in Thee,
And eu'ry morning it is new reuiu'd.
And Lord such claime my soule vnto thee layes .
That shee will euer trust in thee, she sayes.

For, thou art kinde to those that waite thy will;
And, to their soules that after thee attend.
Good therefore is it, that in quiet still,
We hope that safety, which thou Lord wilt send.
And happy he, that timely doth enure,
His youthfull necke the burthen to endure.

He downe will sit alone, and nothing say;
But, since 'tis cast vpon him, beare it out.
(Yea, though his mouth vpon the dust they lay)
And while there may be hope, will not mis-doubt .
His Cheeke to him that smiteth, offers He;
And is content, though he reuiled be.

For, sure is he (what euer doth befall)
The LORD will not forsake for euermore:
But that he hauing punisht, pitty shall,
Because he many mercies hath in store.
For, God in plaguing, take no pleasure can;
Nor willingly afflicteth any man.

The LORD delighteth not to trample downe,
Those men that here on earth enthralled are:
Or that a Righteous man should be o'rethrowne,
When he before the Highest doth appeare.
Nor is the LORD well-pleased in the sight,
When he beholds the Wrong, subuert the Right.

Let no man mutter then, as if he thought
Some things were done in spight of GODS decree:
For, all things at his word to passe are brought
That either for our good, or euill be.
Why then liues man, such murmurs to begin?
Oh! let him rather murmure at his Sinne.

Our owne lewd courses, let vs search and trie,
We may to thee againe, oh LORD, conuart.
To GOD, that dwelleth in the Heau'ns on high,
Let vs (oh let vs) lift both hand and heart.
For, we haue sinned; we rebellious were:
And therefore was it, that thou didst not spare.

For this (with wrath o're-shaddow'd) thou hast chas't,
And slaughter made of vs, without remorse.
Thy selfe obscured with a clowd thou hast;
That so our Prayers might haue no recourse.
And loe, among the Heathen-People, we
As out-casts, and off-Scowrings reckon'd be.

Our Aduersaries all (and eu'ry where)
Themselues with open mouth against vs set;
On vs, is falne a terrour, and a snare,
Where ruine hath with desolation met:
And for the Daughter of my Peoples cares,
Mine eyes doth cast forth Rivulets of teares.

Mine eyes perpetually were ouerflowne:
And yet there is no ceasing of my Teares.
For, if the LORD in mercy looke not downe,
That from the Heau'ns he may behold my cares;
They will not stint. But for my Peoples sake,
Mine eyes will weep vntil my heart doth break.

As when a Bird is chased too and fro,
My foes pursued me, when cause was none.
Into the Dungeon they my life did throw,
And there they rowled ouer me a stone.
The waters likewise, ouerflow'd me quite:
And then, me thought, I perished out-right.

Yet, on thy Name oh LORD, I cal'ed there,
(Eu'n when in that low Dungeon I did lye)
Whence thou wert pleased my complaint to heare,
Not sleighting me, when I did sighing cry.
That very day I called, thou drew'st neere,
And said'st vnto me, that I should not feare.

Thou LORD, my Soule maintainest in her right.
My Life by thee alone, redeemed was.
Thou hast oh LORD, obserued my despight.
Uouchsafe thy Iudgement also, in my cause.
For, all the grudge they beare me, thou hast seen.
And all their plots that haue against me been.

Thou heard'st what Slanders they against me laid,
And all those mischiefes they deuiz'd for me.
Thou notest what their Lips of me haue said;
Eu'n what their daily closest whisperings be:
And how, when ere they rise, or downe do lye,
Their Song, and Subiect of their mirth am I.

But LORD, thou shalt reward and pay them all,
That meed, their Actions merit to receiue.
Thy heauy maiediction ceaze them shall:
Eu'n this, sad hearts they shall for euer haue.
And by thy wrath pursude they shall be driuen,
Till they are chased out, from vnder Heauen.