Study Desk

I will declare the goodnesse of the LORDE, yee and the prayse of the LORDE for all that he hath gyuen vs, for the greate good yt he hath done for Israel: which he hath gyuen them of his owne fauoure, & acordinge to the multitude of his louynge kindnesses.

For he sayde: These no doute wilbe my people, and no shrekinge children, and so he was their Sauioure.

Yet art thou or father: For Abraham knoweth vs not, nether is Israel acquanted with vs. But thou LORDE art oure father and redemer, and thy name is euer lastinge.

O LORDE wherfore hast thou led vs out of thy waye? wherfore hast thou hardened oure hertes, that we feare the not? Be at one with vs agayne, for thy seruauntes sake yt are of the generacio of thy heretage.

Thy people hath had but litle of thy Sanctuary in possessio, for oure enemies haue take it in:

And we are become, euen as we were from the beginnynge: but thou art not their LORDE, for they haue not called vpon thy name.

For sence the begynnynge of the worlde there was none (excepte thou o God) that herde or perceaued, nether hath eny eye sene what thou dost for the, that put their trust in the.

Thou helpest him that doth right with cherefulnesse, and them that thynke vpon thy wayes. But lo, thou art angrie, for we offende, and haue bene euer in synne, and there is not one whole.

We are all as an vnclene thinge, & all oure rightuousnesses are as the clothes stayned with the floures of a woman: we fall euerychone as the leaf, for oure synnes carie vs awaye like the wynde.

Wilt thou not be intreated (LORDE) for all this? Wilt thou holde thy peace, and scourge vs so sore?

They shal seke me, that hitherto haue not axed for me: they shal fynde me, that hither to haue not sought me. Then shal I saye immediatly, to the people that neuer called vpon my name: I am here, I am here.

For thus longe haue I euer holden out my hondes to an vnfaithful people, that go not the right waye, but after their owne ymaginacions:

Yf thou comest nye them, they saie: touch me not, for I am holyer then thou. All these men when I am angrie, shalbe turned to smoke and fyre, that shal burne for euer.

Morouer thus saieth the LORDE: like as when one wolde gather holy grapes, men saye vnto him: breake it not of, for it is holy: Euen so will I do also for my seruauntes sakes, that I will not destroye them all.

Saron shalbe a shepefolde, and the valley of Achor shal geue stallinge for the catell of my people, that feare me.

But as for you, ye are they, yt haue forsaken the LORDE, and forgotten my holy hill. Ye haue set vp an aulter vnto fortune, & geue rich drinkofferinges vnto treasure.

Therfore wil I nombre you with the swerde, that ye shall be destroyed all together. For when I called, no man gaue me answere: when I spake, ye herkened not vnto me, but dyd wickednes before myne eyes, and chosed the thinge that pleased me not.

Beholde, my seruauntes shal reioyse for very quietnesse of herte. But ye shal crie for sorow of hert, and coplayne for vexacion of mynde.

Youre name shal not be sworne by amonge my chosen, for God the LORDE shal slaye you, and call his seruauntes by another name.

Who so reioyseth vpo earth, shall reioyse in the true God: And Who so sweareth vpo earth, shal sweare in the true God. For the olde enemite shalbe forgotten, and taken awaye out of my sight.