Study Desk

Doe not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieued with those that rise vp against thee?

Attend vnto my crie, for I am brought very low, deliuer mee from my persecuters: for they are stronger then I.

And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soule: for I am thy seruant.

Counsell is mine, and sound wisedome: I am vnderstanding, I haue strength.

Who can say, I haue made my heart cleane, I am pure from my sinne?

So is the man that deceiueth his neighbour, & sayth, Am not I in sport?

Surely I am more brutish then any man, and haue not the vnderstanding of a man.

I communed with mine owne heart, saying, Loe, I am come to great estate, and haue gotten more wisedome then all they that haue beene before me in Ierusalem: yea my heart had great experience of wisedome & knowledge.

I am blacke, but comely, (O ye daughters of Ierusalem) as the tents of Kedar, as the curtaines of Solomon.

Looke not vpon me because I am blacke, because the Sunne hath looked vpon me: my mothers children were angry with me, they made me the keeper of the vineyards, but mine owne vineyard haue I not kept.

I Am the rose of Sharon, and the lillie of the valleys.

Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples, for I am sicke of loue.

My beloued is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lillies.

I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse, I haue gathered my Myrrhe with my spice, I haue eaten my honie combe with my hony, I haue drunke my wine with my milke: eate, O friends, drinke, yea drinke abundantly, O beloued!

I charge you, O daughters of Ierusalem, if ye find my beloued, that yee tell him, that I am sicke of loue.

I am my beloueds, & my beloued is mine: he feedeth among the lillies.

I am my beloueds, and his desire is towards me.

I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found fauour.

To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices vnto me, sayth the Lord? I am full of the burnt offerings of rammes, and the fat of fedde beasts, and I delight not in the blood of bullockes, or of lambes, or of hee goates.

Your new Moones, and your appointed Feasts my soule hateth: they are a trouble vnto me, I am weary to beare them.