Coverdale Psalms

8/13/2019 Coverdale Psalms

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Psalmsthe coverdale translation 0- 9yt= o65] p[edited byw. s. peterson and valerie macys

This modern-spellin electronic version o! "iles #overdale$s Psalter was %ploaded to my&eb site Little Gidding: En- glish Spiritual Traditions ' in (eptember )000. *t may o! co%rse be

printed or downloaded and %sed !or personal p%rposes+ b%t * re,%est that it not be posted onanother site witho%t my per- mission. &illiam (. Peterson wsp/wam.%md.ed%

'. http122www.in!orm.%md.ed%234 2en l!ac2&Peterson2 *77*4 2welcome.htm'

*4T8 7:#T* 4

By William S. Peterson

"iles #overdale + born in ;or>+ st%d- ied at #ambrid e :niversity wherehe became an @% stin- ian Ariar and was ordained priest at 4orwich in abo%t '5' . @side !romthese simple !acts+ little in!ormation s%rvives abo%t his early li!e+ b%t we do


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wrote to #romwell1 E4ow * be in to taste o! holy (cript%resF now+ hono%r be to od+ * am set tothe most sweet smell o! holy letters+ with the odly savo%r o! holy and ancient doctors+ %ntowhose


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translatin the Psalms are


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5

@ 4 T3 4 ( :8#3(

This boo< is intended to be a very conservatively revised edition o! #overdale$s Psalter as it hasappeared in the Book of Common Prayer since the seventeenth cent%ry. The chan es that wehave made are minor and are intended to eliminate those elements that mi ht con!%se or wearymodern readers.

3Bcept in a !ew instances described below+ we have not chan ed #overdale$s words+ b%t we have!elt at liberty to al- ter his spellin and p%nct%ation. The spellin has been made to con!orm tomodern Iritish standards+ and we have s%bsti- t%ted the ortho raphy o! Iiblical personal and

place names !o%nd in the @%thoriDed Nersion. &e have occasionally re- tained an older spellins%ch as for e!er instead o! fore!er beca%se it seemed to %s to have a sli htly di!!erent

pron%ncia- tion or rhythm.

The p%nct%ation o! the Psalter represented a more di!!i- c%lt problem+ beca%se it appears veryheavy to most readers today+ yet it is clear that the pro!%se %se o! commas and semi- colons inthe siBteenth cent%ry was meant as an aid in the p%blic readin o! the Psalms. %r sol%tion+there!ore+ has been to retain as m%ch as possible o! #overdale$s p%nct%a- tion eBcept when itseemed obvio%sly eccentric or mislead- in . &e have+ however+ replaced the colon introd%ced!or li- t%r ical p%rposes which appears in the middle o! each verse in the Book of Common

Prayer with more conventional mar


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the s% estions o!- !ered by 3rnest #lapton whose boo< is cited below and have reverted to the'5J5 translation in Psalms '?1'J+ J)1'0+ )1')+ 591''+ 9 1'5+ '061J0+ ''9.'61))+ ' '1>+ 6>1J0+and ''>1>.

There is a considerable body o! scholarship on #overdale+ the history o! 3n lish translations o!

the Iible+ the Prayer Ioo< in which #overdale$s Psalter has been most !re,%ently reprinted +and the Kebrew Psalms. &e have !o%nd the !ollowin boo


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* will preach the law+ whereo! the ord hath said %nto me+ Tho% art my (on+ this day have * be otten thee. 7esire o! me+ and * shall ive thee the heathen !or thine inheritance+ and the%tmost parts o! the earth !or thy possession. Tho% shalt br%ise them with a rod o! iron+ and brea

d te' 3omine

:nto thee will * cry+ ord+ my stren thF thin< no scorn o! me+ lest+ i! tho% ma


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* will ma ni!y thee+ ordF !or tho% hast set me %p+ and not made my !oes to tri%mph over me. ord my od+ * cried %nto thee+ and tho% hast healed me. Tho%+ ord+ hast bro% ht my so%lo%t o! hellF tho% hast


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the li ht o! thy co%ntenance+ and save me !or thy mercy$s sa


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8eCoice in the ord+ ye ri hteo%sF !or it becometh well the C%st to be to be than

Aor the word o! the ord is tr%eF and all his wor


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saintsF !or they that !ear him lac< nothin . The lions do lac


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ord+ how lon wilt tho% loo< %pon this deliver my so%l !rom the calamities which they brinon me+ and my

)>

darlin !rom the lions. (o will * ive thee than


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J?

9oli aemulari

Aret not thysel! beca%se o! the %n odlyF neither be tho% envio%s a ainst the evil doers. Aor theyshall soon be c%t down li


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ton %e will be tal


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my salvation.

J9

3i6i' "ustodiam

* said+ * will ta


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re!rain my lips+ ord+ and that tho%


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%p a ainst %s. Aor * will not tr%st in my bowF it is not my sword that shall help me.

I%t it is tho% that savest %s !rom o%r enemies+ and p%ttest them to con!%sion that hate %s. &ema


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Kear


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his holy seat. The princes o! the people are Coined %nto the people o! the od o! @brahamF !orod+ which is very hi h eBalted+ doth de!end the earth+ as it were with a shield.

>

agnus 3ominus

reat is the ord+ and hi hly to be praised in the city o! o%r od+ even %pon his holy hill. Thehill o! (ion is a !air place+ and the Coy o! the whole earthF %pon the north side lieth the city o! thereat Lin . od is well


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They lie in the hell li


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iserere mei' 3eus

Kave mercy %pon me+ od+ a!ter thy reat oodnessF accordin to the m%ltit%de o! thymercies do away mine o!- !ences. &ash me thro% hly !rom my wic


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li


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!ar o!!+ and remain in the wilderness. * wo%ld ma


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so%l !rom death+ and my

)

!eet !rom !allin + that * may wal< be!ore od in the li ht o! the livin .

5?

iserere mei' 3eus

Ie merci!%l %nto me+ od+ be merci!%l %nto me+ !or my so%l tr%steth in theeF and %nder theshadow o! thy win s shall be my re!% e+ %ntil this tyranny be overpast. * will call %nto the "ostKi h od+ even %nto the od that shall per!orm the ca%se which * have in hand. Ke shall send!rom heaven+ and save me !rom the reproo! o! him that wo%ld eat me %p. od shall send !orth hismercy and tr%thF my so%l is amon lions.

@nd * lie even amon the children o! men that are set on !ire+ whose teeth are spears and arrows+

and their ton %e a sharp sword. (et %p thysel!+ od+ above the heavens+ and thy lory aboveall the earth. They have laid a net !or my !eet+ and pressed down my so%lF they have d% a pit be!ore me+ and are !allen into the midst o! it themselves.

"y heart is !iBed+ od+ my heart is !iBedF * will sin and ive praise. @wa


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J

that a man shall say+ Nerily there is a reward !or the ri hteo%sF do%btless there is a od that C%d eth the earth.

59

Eripe me de inimi"is

7eliver me !rom mine enemies+ odF de!end me !rom them that rise %p a ainst me. deliverme !rom the wic


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tho%+ ord+ art merci- !%lF !or tho% rewardest every man accordin to his wor


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that hearest the prayer+ %nto thee shall all !lesh come. "y misdeeds prevail a ainst meF be tho%merci!%l %nto o%r sins. Ilessed is the man whom tho% choosest+ and receivest %nto theeF he shalldwell in thy co%rt+ and shall be satis!ied with the pleas%res o! thy ho%se+ even o! thy holy temple.

Tho% shalt show %s wonder!%l thin s in thy ri hteo%sness+ od o! o%r salvation+ tho% that art

the hope o! all the ends o! the earth+ and o! them that remain in the broad sea who in hisstren th setteth !ast the mo%ntains+ and is irded abo%t with power+ who stilleth the ra in o! thesea+ and the noise o! his waves+ and the madness o! the people. They also that dwell in the%ttermost parts o! the earth shall be a!raid at thy to


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I%t od hath heard meF and considered the voice o! my prayer. Praised be od+ who hath notcast o%t my prayer+ nor t%rned his mercy !rom me.

6?

3eus misereatur

od be merci!%l %nto %s+ and bless %s+ and show %s the li ht o! his co%ntenance+ and be merci!%l%nto %s+ that thy way may be

E6urgat 3eus

et od arise+ and let his enemies be scatteredF let them also that hate him !lee be!ore him. i


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Kaste thee+ od+ to deliver meF ma


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blasphemyF their tal


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thy ri ht hand o%t o! thy bosom to cons%me the enemy

Aor od is my Lin o! oldF the help that is done %pon earth+ he doeth it himsel!. Tho% didstdivide the sea thro% h thy powerF tho% bro


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Tho%+ even tho% art to be !earedF and who may stand in thy si ht when tho% art an ry Tho%didst ca%se thy C%d e- ment to be heard !rom heavenF the earth trembled+ and was still+ when odarose to C%d ement+ and to help all the mee< %pon earth.

The !ierceness o! man shall t%rn to thy praiseF and the !ierceness o! them shalt tho% re!rain.

Promise %nto the ord yo%r od+ and


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o%r !athers have told %s + that we sho%ld not hide them !rom the children o! the enerations tocome b%t to show the hono%r o! the ord+ his mi hty and wonder- !%l wor


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shadow o! itF and the bo% hs thereo! were li


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od standeth in the con re ation o! princesF he is a H%d e amon ods. Kow lon will ye ivewron C%d ement+ and accept the persons o! the %n odly 7e!end the poor and !atherlessF seethat s%ch as are in need and necessity have ri ht. 7eliver the o%tcast and poorF save them !romthe hand o! the %n odly.

They will not be learned nor %nderstand+ b%t wal< on still in dar


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even thy altars+ ord o! hosts+ my Lin and my od.

Ilessed are they that dwell in thy ho%seF they will be al- ways praisin thee. Ilessed is the manwhose stren th is in thee+ in whose heart are thy ways+ who oin thro% h the vale o! misery %seit !or a wellF and the pools are !illed with water. They will o !rom stren th to stren th+ and %nto

the od o! ods appeareth every one o! them in (ion. ord od o! hosts+ hear my prayerF hear


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time o! my tro%ble * will call %pon theeF !or tho% hearest me.

@mon the ods there is none li


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called daily %pon thee+ * have stretched !orth my hands %nto thee. 7ost tho% show wondersamon the dead or shall the dead rise %p a ain+ and praise thee (hall thy lovin -


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enemy shall not be able to do him violenceF the son o! wic


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Aor a tho%sand years in thy si ht are b%t as yesterday+ see- in that is passed as a watch in theni ht. @s soon as tho% scat- terest them+ they are even as a sleep+ and !ade away s%ddenly li


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salvation.

9)

Bonum est "onfiteri

*t is a ood thin to ive than


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people+ ord+ and tro%ble thine herita e. They m%r- der the widow and the stran er+ and p%tthe !atherless to death. @nd yet they say+ T%sh+ the ord shall not see+ neither shall the od o!Hacob re ard it.

Ta


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Cantate 3omino

(in %nto the lord a new son F sin %nto the ord+ all the whole earth. (in %nto the ord+ and praise his 4ameF be tellin o! his salvation !rom day to day. 7eclare his hono%r %nto the heathen+and his wonders %nto all people. Aor the ord is reat+ and cannot worthily be praisedF he is more

to be !eared than all ods. @s !or all the ods o! the heathen+ they are b%t idolsF b%t it is the ordthat made the heavens. lory and worship are be!ore himF power and hono%r are in his sanct%ary.

69

@scribe %nto the ord+ ye


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ri hteo%sness hath he openly showed in the si ht o! the heathen. Ke hath remembered his mercyand

?0

tr%th toward the ho%se o! *sraelF and all the ends o! the world have seen the salvation o! o%r od.(how yo%rselves Coy!%l %nto the ord+ all ye landsF sin + reCoice+ and ive than


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iseri"ordiam et 8udi"ium

"y son shall be o! mercy and C%d ementF %nto thee+ ord+ will * sin . let me have%nderstandin in the way o! odlinessQ &hen wilt tho% come %nto me * will wal< in my ho%sewith a per!ect heart. * will ta


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ive than


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too< the labo%rs o! the people in possession+ that they mi ht


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o! iron in s%nder.

Aoolish men are pla %ed !or their o!!ence+ and beca%se o! their wic


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(et %p thysel!+ od+ above the heavens+ and thy lory above all the earth+ that thy beloved may be deliveredF let thy ri ht hand save them+ and hear tho% me.

od hath spo


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Kelp me+ ord my odF save me accordin to thy mercy+ and they shall


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shall be mi hty %pon earthF the eneration o! the !aith!%l shall be blessed. 8iches

>'

and plenteo%sness shall be in his ho%seF and his ri hteo%s- ness end%reth !or ever.

:nto the odly there ariseth %p li ht in the dar


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4ot %nto %s+ ord+ not %nto %s+ b%t %nto thy 4ame ive the praise+ !or thy lovin mercy+ and!or thy tr%th$s sa


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in the co%rts o! the ord$s ho%se+ even in the midst o! thee+ Her%salem.

Praise the ord.

''?

Laudate 3ominum

praise the ord+ all ye heathenF praise him+ all ye nations. Aor his merci!%l

Confitemini 3omino

ive than


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yea+ even %nto the horns o! the altar.

Tho% art my od+ and * will than< theeF tho% art my od+ and * will praise thee. ive than


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Bonitatem fe"isti

ord+ tho% hast dealt racio%sly with thy servant+ accordin %nto thy word. learn me tr%e%nderstandin and


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%sest to do %nto those that love thy 4ame. rder my steps in thy wordF and so shall nowic


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pray !or the peace o! Her%salemF they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls+and plenteo%sness within thy palaces. Aor my brethren and companions$ sa


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was o%r mo%th !illed with la% hter+ and o%r ton %e with Coy. Then said they amon the heathen+The ord hath done reat thin s !or them.

;ea+ the ord hath done reat thin s !or %s already+ whereo! we reCoice. T%rn o%r captivity+ ord+ as the rivers in the so%th.

They that sow in tears shall reap in Coy. Ke that now oeth on his way weepin + and beareth !orthood seed+ shall do%btless come a ain with Coy+ and brin his sheaves with him.

')?

9isi 3ominus

3Bcept the ord b%ild the ho%se+ their labo%r is b%t lost that b%ild it. 3Bcept the ord


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'J0

3e profundis

%t o! the deep have * called %nto thee+ ordF ord+ hear my voice. let thine ears considerwell the voice o! my complaint. *! tho%+ ord+ wilt be eBtreme to mar< what is done amiss+ ord+ who may abide it Aor there is mercy with theeF there!ore shalt tho% be !eared. * loo< !orthe ordF my so%l doth wait !or him. *n his word is my tr%st. "y so%l !leeth %nto the ord be!orethe mornin watch+ * say+ be!ore the mornin watch.

*srael+ tr%st in the ordF !or with the ord there is mercy+ and with him is plenteo%sredemption. @nd he shall redeem *srae* !rom all his sins.

9

'J'

3omine' non est

ord+ * am not hi h-mindedF * have no pro%d loo


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ho%se o! @aron. Praise the ord+ ye ho%se o! eviF ye that !ear the ord+ praise the ord.

Praised be the ord o%t o! (ion+ who dwelleth at Her%salem.

96

'J6

Confitemini

ive than


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8emember the children o! 3dom+ ord+ in the day o! Her%salem+ how they said+ 7own with it+down with it+ even to the ro%nd. da% hter o! Iabylon+ wasted with misery+ yea+ happy shallhe be that rewardeth thee as tho% hast served %s. Ilessed shall he be that ta


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dear are thy co%nsels %nto me+ odF how reat is the s%m o! themQ *! * tell them+ they aremore in n%mber than the sandF when * wa


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places+ that they may hear my words+ !or they are sweet. %r bones lie scattered be!ore the pit+li


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ri hteo%sness. %ic


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%nto every manF and his mercy is over all his wor


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%nto o%r od+ who covereth the heaven with clo%ds+ and prepareth rain !or the earth+ and ma


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saints.

'50

Laudate 3ominum

praise od in his holinessF praise him in the !irmament o! his power. Praise him in his nobleactsF praise him accordin to his eBcellent reatness. Praise him in the so%nd o! the tr%mpetF

praise him %pon the l%te and harp. Praise him in the cymbals and dancesF praise him %pon thestrin s and pipe. Praise him %pon the well-t%ned cymbalsF praise him %pon the lo%d cymbals.

et every thin that hath breath praise the ord.

'0

((@8;

The !ollowin list consists o! words and phrases in #overdale$s translation o! the Psalter very brie!ly de- !ined which may be %n!amiliar to some readers+ since many o! the words have !alleno%t o! %se since the siBteenth cen- t%ry. The n%mbers o! the Psalms in which the terms appear arein brac9> .

afore: be!ore [? + ')9] against: in the presence o! [)J] allo#: approve [''] $etimes: early [5+ 59+' J] $u"kler: shield ['>+ J5+ 9'] "ast lots: amble+ as in throwin dice [))] "ast me in the teeth:ta%nt me [ )] "ertify: in!orm ['9+ J9] "omforta$le: com!ortin [5 + 69] "ony: rabbit ['0 ]"on!ersation: relationships with other people [J?+ 50] "ords: ropes [)+ ''>+ ' 0] de"lare: ma+ )9] dissem$le: conceal one$sreal nat%re [')+ '>+ ?>] dragon: sea-monster [ + ? + 9'+ ' >] enduedst: endowed ['J>] ensue:!ollow a!ter [J ] entreated: treated ['0?] es"he#: avoid ['?+ J ] fain: lad ly [J + ?0] fast:!irm ly [JJ+ J>+ 65+ 69+ ?J+ >>+ >9+ 96+ '0)+ '0?+ '''+ '')+ ')5+ ' ?+ ' >] fire$rand: piece o!

b%rnin wood ['0)] flittings: wanderin s [56] flood: river [) + )9+ 6+ 69+ ?)+ >9+ 9J+ '0?] fro#ard: di!!ic%lt+ %nr%ly ['>+ + 5>+ 6 + '0'] gra!e !er$ 1 di [?+ ' '] ground !er$ 1 b%ild%pon a sold !o%ndation [''9.'9] ground of the heart: bottom o! the heart [6>] grudge: complain[59] hart: deer ['>+ )] hell: the rave [9+ '6+ '>+ J0+ 9+ 55+ >6+ >>+ >9+ ''6+ 'J9] high stoma"h:

pride ['0'] hind: doe [)9] hold of: clin to [J'] horn: emblem o! power and mi ht ['>+ ?5+ >9+ 9)+'')+ 'J)+ ' >] hyssop: plant %sed in Hewish p%ri!ication rites [5'] impute: ascribe [J)] indite: writeor dictate [ 5] in!entions: contrivances+ lies [5+ )>+ 99+ '06] 7e#ry: H%daea [?6]knap: brea< into

pieces with a sharp blow [ 6] learn: teach [)+ )5+ >)+ ''9.'9]

'05

leasing: lies [ + 5] Le!iathan: sea-monster [? + '0 ] lot: destiny or share ['6+ '05+ ')5] mem$er: part or or an o! the body ['0>+ 'J9] mer"y-seat: coverin o! the sacred ar< in the Hewish temple


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[)>] minished: diminished [')+ '0?] myrrh +aloes + and "assia: !ra rant plants and %m-resins [ 5]naughty: wic6] noisome: harm!%lF evil-smellin [9'] o$lation: sacri!ice or o!!erin [)?+ 5']outgoings: the eBtremities [65] perad!enture: perhaps [55+ 'J9] pit: raveF trap [6+ ?+ 9+ )>+ J0+J5+ 0+ 5?+ 6>+ >>+ 9 + ''9.''+ ' 0+ ' '+ ' J] ports: ates [9] pre!ent: o be!ore ['>+ )'+ ''9.'9]

pri!ily: secretly [9+ '0+ ''+ J'+ J5+ 6 + '0'+ ' )] pro!e: test ['?+)6+ 66+ >'+ 95+ 'J9] 0ui"k: alive

[55] 0ui"ken: brin to li!e [))+ >5+ ''9. + ''9.5+ ''9.?+ ''9.''+ ''9.' + ''9.'9+''9.)0+ ' J] ramping: !ierce [))] refrain: restrain [ 0+ ?6+ >J+ ''9.'J+ 'J'] reins: literally] seat: throne [9+ ''+ 5+ ?+ >9+ 9J+ 9?+ '0J+ '0?+ '))+'J)] sha#m: m%sical instr%ment+ similar to a clarinet [9>] sore: severely+ very [)+ J>+ ?>+ ''9.'']

span: hand$s breadth [J9] stiff ne"k: ri idity [?5] stool: throne [9 ] strange: !orei n ['>+ + >'+'' + 'J?+ ' ] suffer: allow ['6+ '00+ 'J)] surety: one who %arantees the payment o! a debt orthe apppearance

o! another person in co%rt [''9.'6] ta$ret: small dr%m [>'+ ' 9] tell: co%nt ['9+ ))+ >+ 56+ 'J9+' ?] tim$rel: tambo%rine-li] token: si n [60+ 65+ ? + >6+ '05+ 'J5]

throughly: thoro% hly [5'] tra!ail: labor+ speci!ically birth labor [?+ >] trump: tr%mpet [ ?] try:eBamineF C%d e [''+ ')+ )6+ 'J9] unfeigned: honest [''9.'] uni"orn: le endary one-horned beast[))+ )9+ 9)] !anity: somethin that is worthless [ + 5+ 6+ '0+ ')+ ) + J'+ J9+ '+ 6)+ ?>+

''9.5+ ' ] !erily: tr%ly [)?+ J?+ J9+ 5>+ 6)] #ater-pipes: %nder ro%nd sprin [ )] #eights: scales[6)] #ell-liking: healthy [9)] #het: sharpen [?+ 6 ] #ithal: as well [69+ ??+ ?>+ '06+ '09]

'06

Coverdale Psalms

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