Highly the Lord I praise Who setts mee high Aboue my proud insultinge enimie; Sicke to the death, I cried to GOD for ease, And Hee hath cur'd my dangerous disease; Hee from the graue hath lifted up my head And hath reduc't[207] mee from among the dead. Yee SAINTS of His in songs His praise expresse, With thankes[208] make mention of His holines; For momentarie His displeasure is, When in His fauour there is life and blisse; Sad sorrow may continue for a night, But joy returneth with the morninge light. When my estate did prosper, then said I I shall not fall, my seat is fixt on high. But when Thou Lord, didst turne Thy face aside, Then was I trubled, and to Thee I cride; To Thee began I then againe to pray, And in my humble prayer thus did say: What profit can there by my death arise, When buried in the graue my body lies? Shall dust and ashes celebrate Thy name? Or shall the silent TOOMBE Thy truth proclaime? Lord, heare my prayer, and then Thy mercie show In aidinge mee against my cruell foe! Loe now to dancinge,[209] Thou hast turn'd my sadnes, Out[210] of my sackloth girded mee with gladnes. For this shall euerie good man singe Thy praise, And I shall thanke and blesse Thee all my dayes. [Footnote 207: = re-led. G.] [Footnote 208: With reference to the 'es' here and elsewhere, it is given only when written in full and not by contraction-sign: the latter, except where the rhythm demands it, is represented by the simple 's' of our modern plural. Cf. prefatory Note to these 'Psalms,' _ante_. G.] [Footnote 209: 'sadnes' written and erased here. G.] [Footnote 210: I am uncertain whether this is 'But' or 'Out.' G.] PSALM XXXI.