Thus did I think: I well will mark my way, Lest by my tongue I hap to stray; I mussle will my mouth while in the sight I do abide of wicked wight. And so I nothing said, I mute stood, I silence kept, ev'n in the good. But still the more that I did hold my peace, The more my sorrow did increase, The more me thought my heart was hot in me; And as I mused such world to see, The fire took fire and forcibly out brake; My tongue would needs and thus I spake: Lord, unto me my time's just measure give, Show me how long I have to live. Lo, Thou a span's length madest my living line; A span? nay nothing in Thine eyen. What do we seek? the greatest state I see At best is merely vanity. They are but shades, not true things where we live; Vain shades and vain, in vain to grieve. Look but on this: man still doth riches heap And knows not who the fruit shall reap. This being thus, for what, O Lord, wait I? I wait on Thee with hopeful eye. O help, O help me; this far yet I crave, From my transgressions me to save. Let me not be thrown down to so base shame That fools of me may make their game. But I do hush, why do I say thus much, Since it is Thou that makest one such? Ah! yet from me let Thy plagues be displaced, For with Thy handy strokes I waste. I know that man's foul sin doth cause Thy wrath. For when his sin Thy scourging hath, Thou moth-like mak'st his beauty fading be; So what is man but vanity? Hear, Lord, my suits and cries, stop not Thine ears At these my words all clothed in tears; For I with Thee on earth a stranger am But baiting, as my fathers came; Stay then Thy wrath, that I may strength receive Ere I my earthly being leave. |