Jubilate Deo

Representative Text

1 Ye men on earth, in God rejoice,
with praise set forth his Name,
Exalt his might with heart and voice,
give glory to the same.

2 How wonderful, O Lord, say ye,
in all thy works thou art!
Thy foes for fear shall seek to thee,
full sore against their heart.

3 All men that dwell the earth thro'out
shall praise the Name of God.
The laud whereof the world about
is shew'd and set abroad.

4 All folk, come forth, behold and see
what things the Lord hath wrought,
Mark well the wond'rous works that he
for men to pass hath brought:

5 He laid the sea like heaps on high,
therein a way they had
On foot to pass, both fair and dry,
whereof their hearts were glad.

6 His might doth rule the world alway,
his eyes all things behold;
And such as will him disobey
by him shall be controul'd.

7 Ye people, give unto our God
due laud and thanks always;
With joyful voice declare abroad
and sing unto his praise,

8 Who doth endue our soul with life,
and it preserve withal;
He stays our feet, so that no strife
can make us slip or fall.

9 The Lord doth prove our deeds with fire,
whether they will abide,
As workmen do when they desire
to have their metals try'd.

10 Although thou dost us suffer long
in prison to be cast,
And there with chains and fetters strong
to lie in bondage fast;

The Second Part.

11 Although, I say, thou suffer men
on us to ride and reign,
Tho' we thro' fire and water run
with very grief and pain;

12 Yet sure thou dost of thy good grace
dispose it to the best,
Bringing us out into a place
to live in wealth and rest.

13 Unto thy house resort will I
to offer and to pray,
And there I will myself apply
my vows to thee to pay;

14 The vows that with my mouth I spake
in all my grief and smart,
The vows, I say, which I did make
in anguish of my heart.

15 Burnt-off'rings I will give to thee
of oxen fat, and rams,
Yea, this my sacrifice shall be
of bullocks, goats, and lambs.

16 Come forth and hearken here full soon,
all ye, that fear the Lord,
What he for my poor soul hath done
to you I will record:

17 Full oft I call to mind his grace,
his mouth to him doth cry;
And thou, my tongue, make speedy pace
to praise him joyfully.

18 But if I feel my heart within
in wicked works rejoice,
Or if I have delight in sin,
God will not hear my voice.

19 But surely God my voice hath heard,
and what I do require;
My prayer also he doth regard,
and granteth my desire.

20 All praise to him that hath not put
nor cast me out of mind,
Nor yet his mercy from me shut,
which I do ever find.

Source: The Whole Book of Psalms #LXVI

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Author: Thomas Sternhold

Thomas Sternhold was Groom of the Robes to Henry VIII and Edward VI. With Hopkins, he produced the first English version of the Psalms before alluded to. He completed fifty-one; Hopkins and others composed the remainder. He died in 1549. Thirty-seven of his psalms were edited and published after his death, by his friend Hopkins. The work is entitled "All such Psalms of David as Thomas Sternhold, late Groome of the King's Majestye's Robes, did in his Lyfetime drawe into Englyshe Metre." Of the version annexed to the Prayer Book, Montgomery says: "The merit of faithful adherence to the original has been claimed for this version, and need not to be denied, but it is the resemblance which the dead bear to the living." Wood, in his "Athe… Go to person page >

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