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Miserere mei, Deus.
O LORD, 1 consider my distresse, | |
| And now with speede some pittie take; | |
| My sinnes deface, my faults redresse, | |
| Good Lord, for thy great mercies’ sake. | |
| Wash me, O Lord, and make me cleane | 5 |
| From this vniust and sinfull act; | |
| And purifie but once againe | |
| My hainous crime and bloodie fact. | |
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| Remorse and sorrow doe constraine | |
| Me to acknowledge mine excesse; | 10 |
| My sinne, alas! doth still remaine | |
| Before my face without release. | |
| For thee alone I haue offended, | |
| Committing euill in thy sight; | |
| And if I were therefore condemned, | 15 |
| Yet were thy iudgements iust and right. | |
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| It is too manifest, alas! | |
| That first I was conceiued in sinne; | |
| Yea, of my mother so borne was, | |
| And yet, vile wretch, remaine therein. | 20 |
| Also behould, Lord, thou doest loue | |
| The inward truth of a pure hart: | |
| Therefore thy wisedome from aboue | |
| Thou hast reuealed me to conuert. | |
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| If thou with hisope purge this blot, | 25 |
| I shall be cleaner than the glasse; | |
| And if thou wash away my spot, | |
| The snow in whitenesse shall I passe. | |
| Therefore, O Lord, such ioy me send, | |
| That inwardly I may find grace; | 30 |
| And then my strength may now amend, | |
| Which yet hast swagde for my trespas. | |
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| Turne backe thy face and frowning ire, | |
| For I haue felt inough thy hand; | |
| And purge my sinnes, I thee desire, | 35 |
| Which doe in number passe the sand. | |
| Make new my hart within my brest, | |
| And frame it to thy holy will: | |
| Thy constant Spirit in me let rest, | |
| Which may these raging enemies kill. | 40 |
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| Cast me not, Lord, out from thy face, | |
| But spedily my torments end; | |
| Take not from me thy Spirit and grace, | |
| Which may from dangers me defend. | |
| Restore me to those ioyes againe, | 45 |
| Which I was wont in thee to find; | |
| And let me thy free Spirit retaine, | |
| Which vnto thee may stir my mind. | |
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| Thus when I shall thy mercies know, | |
| I shall instruct others therein; | 50 |
| And men likewise that are brought low | |
| By mine example shall flee sin. | |
| O God, that of my health art Lord, | |
| Forgiue me this my bloudie vice; | |
| My hart and tongue shall then accord | 55 |
| To sing thy mercies and iustice. | |
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| Touch thou my lips; my tongue vntie, | |
| O Lord, which art the onely kay; | |
| And then my mouth shall testifie | |
| Thy wondrous workes and praise alway. | 60 |
| And as for outward sacrifice, | |
| I would haue offered many a one, | |
| But thou esteemest them of no price, | |
| And therein pleasure takest none. | |
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| The heauie hart, the mind opprest, | 65 |
| O Lord, thou neuer doest reiect; | |
| And, to speake truth, it is the best, | |
| And of all sacrifice the effect. | |
| Lord, vnto Sion turne thy face; | |
| Poure out thy mercies on thy hill, | 70 |
| And on Jerusalem thy grace; | |
| Build vp thy walles, and loue it still. | |
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| Thou shalt accept then our offrings | |
| Of peace and righteousnes, I say; | |
| Yea, calues and many other things | 75 |
| Vpon thine altar will we lay. | |
