The Paris Psalter: Psalm 118 University of Oxford CLASP Project nick.white@ell.ox.ac.uk https://clasp.ell.ox.ac.uk/poem/A.5.5.118 Distributed by the University of Oxford under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License Library of Congress Subject Headings English, Old (ca. 450-1100) Poems The Paris Psalter: Psalm 118
eadige beoþ on wege þa þe unwemme on hiora dryhtnes æ deore gangaþ
eadige beoþ swylce þa þe a wyllaþ his gewitnesse wise smeagan and hine mid ealle innancundum heortan hordcofan helpe biddaþ
ne magon manwyrhtan mægene feran on his mærne weg mihtigan drihtnes
þu þine bebodu bealde hete ealle eorþbuend elne haldan
ic þæs la wisce þæt wegas mine on þinum willan weorþan gereahte þæt ic þin agen bebod elne healde
ne beo ic þonne on ealdre æfre gescynded gif ic on ealle þine bebodu elne locie
ic þe andette ece dryhten mid minre heortan holde geþance on þan þe ic geleornode and gelæstan mæg þæt ic þine domas dædum healde
and ic þine soþfæstnysse swylce mote on hyge healdan þæt þu huru me on þyssum ealdre ænne ne forlæte
on hwan mæg se iunga on godne weg rihtran þe rædran ræd gemittan þonne he þine wisan word gehealde
ic þe mid ealre innancundre heortan sece ne þu huru me fram þinum bebodum feor adrife
forþon ic on minre heortan hydde georne þæt ic þinre spræce sped gehealde þy læs þe ic gefremme fyrene ænige
þu eart gebletsud bliþe dryhten lær me mid lufan hu ic læste well and ic þine soþfæstnysse sweotule cunne
ic on minum welerum wordum secge ealles þines muþes meahte domas
and ic on wege swylce wynnum gange þær ic þine gewitnesse wat ful clæne swa ic ealra welena willum bruce
swa ic on þine soþfæstnysse soþe getreowe þæt ic ne weorþe worda þinra ealra ofergittul awa to feore
ic on þinre soþfæstnysse symble meteode þæt ic þine wislicu word geheolde
gild þinum esne gode dæde ic on lifdagum lustum healde þinra worda waru mid wisdome
onwreoh þu mine eagan þæt ic wel mæge on þinre æ eall sceawian wundur wræclicu þa þu worhtyst ær
ic eom on eorþan earm bigenga ne do þu me dyrne þine þa deoran bebodu
þæt sawul min symble wilnaþ þæt ic þin soþfæst word gesund mote on ealle tid elne healdan
þu oferhydige ealle þreadest þa þu awyrgde wistest gearuwe and þine bebodu efnan noldan
afyr þu fram me facen and edwit oþþe ic oferhydige awiht wylle forþan ic þine gewitnesse wylle secan
ac nu ealdormenn ealle ætgædere sæton on seldum swyþe spræcon and wiþ me wraþum wordum scirdan hwæþere þin esne elnes teolode þæt he þine soþe word snotur beeode
me wæs þin gewitnys wyrþ and getreowe and ic hi on mode metegie georne and me to frofre wat þæt ic forþ heonun his soþfæstnysse sece georne
ætfealh min sawul flore geneahhige do me æfter þinum wordum wel gecwician
ic þe wegas mine wise secge and þu me gehyrdest holde mode lær me on life hu ic lengest mæge þine soþfæstnysse selest gehealdan
þu me soþfæstnysse weg swylce getacna þæt ic on þinum wundrum me wel begange
min sawl aslep þa me sorh begeat for langunga læt me nu-þa on þinum wordum weorþan trumne
afyr fram me unryhte wegas and me on þinre æ geweorþ ealles milde
ic me wise geceas wegas soþfæste ne weorþe ic þinra doma gedweled æfre
swa ic fæste ætfealh þæt ic forþ heonun þine gewitnysse wel geheolde ne wylt þu me on ealdre æfre gescyndan
nu ic on wisne weg worda þinra reþne rinne and þu rice nu mine heortan geheald on hyge brade
æ þu me sete ece dryhten þæt ic on soþfæste wegas symble gange and ic þa secan symble mote
syle me andgit eac þæt ic æ þine smeage mid soþe swylce healde on ealre minre heortan holde mode
gelæd me on stige þær ic stæpe mine on þinum bebodum bryce hæbbe forþan ic hy mid soþe symble wolde
ahyld mine heortan þæt ic halige nu on þine gewitnysse wise gecyrre nalæs me gitsung forniman mote
gewend þu mine eagan þy læs ic weorc idel gese þurh synne ac me on soþne weg þinne þone leofan læde cwiculice
sete þinum esne oþer swylce þæt he þine spræce sped leornige and þa on ege þinum ealle healde
þu me scealt edwitt min of awyrpan þæt me to incan ahwær gangeþ forþon ic eom on þinum domum gedefe glæd
efne ic þine bebodu bealde wolde wis wylle gegan wene ic swylce þæt þu me on rihtes ræd gecwycige
and me ofer cume ece dryhten þæt milde mod mære hælu æfter þinre spræce spowendlice
and ic andwyrde þam þe me edwitstafas wordum wraþ cweþaþ þæt ic gewene on þe and on þinum wordum wære hæbbe
ne afyr þu me æfre fæle spræce þa ic me on muþe mægene hæbbe and ic soþfæst word on sylfan healde þæt ic on þinra doma dæde getreowige
and ic æ þine efne and healde and to worulde on þære wunian mote and on ecnysse efnan and healdan
and ic on bealde brædu gange forþan ic þine gewitnysse wel getrymede
and ic þæt fore cyningum cyþan mote þær hig eagum on locian hu me þin gewitnyss ys weorþ and getreowe and on þam ne beon æfre gescynded
and ic on þinum bebodum bealde mote gemetegian swyþe mærne ræd forþan ic hi on lufan minre lange hæfde
and ic mine handa hof gelome þær ic þine bebodu bryce lufade þa ic mid þysse þeode þearle begange and on þine soþcwydas symble ic getreowige
gemun nu dryhten þines wordes on þam þu me þinum þeowe hyht gesealdest
þas ic me on frofre fæste hæbbe on minum eaþmedum ungemete swyþe forþon me þin spræc spedum cwycade
oftust ofermodige unriht fremmaþ oþþæt hi on eorþan ealle forweorþaþ ic þinre æ a folgode
ic wæs gemyndig mærra doma þinra geþancol þeoden dryhten þæt ic on worulde æt þe wurde afrefred
me wearþ gemolten mod on hreþre for fyrenfulra facendædum þa hi æ þine anforleton
ac me to sange symble hæfde hu ic þine soþfæstnysse selest heolde þær ic on elelande ahte stowe
nede ic þæt gemunde nihta gehwylcre þæt ic naman þinne nemde dryhten and ic æ þine elne heolde
þas me andweardum ealle gewurdan forþon ic þine soþfæstnysse sohte georne
me ys on dæle dryhten user cwide cynlice þæt ic cwic wylle þine æ healdan elne mycle
ic bidde þinre ansyne ungemete georne mid ealre gehygde heortan minre þæt þu me on mode milde weorþe æfter þinre spræce spowendlice
swa ic wegas þine wise þence to ferenne fotum minum þæt ic on þinre gewitnysse wel gefere
gearo ic eom symble nalæs grames modes þæt ic betst cunne þine bebodu healdan
me fyrenfulra fæcne rapas ungemet geneahhie oft beclyptan næs ic ofergittul þæt ic æ þine mid hygecræfte heolde and læste
ic æt midre niht mæla gehwylce ricene arise and hraþe gange þær ic þe andette eall ætgædere secge þine domas dædum rihte
ic eom dælneomend þe heom ondrædaþ þe and þine halige bebodu healdaþ georne
þeos eorþe is eall gefylled þinre mildheortnesse mihtig drihten þine soþfæstnesse þu me swylce lær
þu ymb þinne esne æghwær dydest wel weorþlice wene ic drihten þæt þu þin word wylle wis gehealdan
þu me þeodscipe lær þinne tilne and wisdomes word to genihte forþon ic þin bebod þriste gelyfde
ærþon ic gehened hean gewurde ic agylte ungemetum swiþe hwæþere ic þine spræce geheold sped on mode
god þu eart drihten and me god swylce on þinum tile gelær þæt ic teala cunne þin soþfæst weorc symble healdan
ys nu mænigfeald ofer me man and unriht oferhydigra ic nu mid ealre minre heortan hige hycge swiþe þæt ic þin bebod beorht atredde
ys heora heorte nu her anlicast swa meoluc wese mægene gerunnen ic æ þine ungemete georne on modsefan minum healde
selre me wæs and seftre þæt þu sylfa me heane gehnægdest and ic hraþe syþþan þin soþfæst weorc wel leornade
me is micle betere þæt ic bebodu healde þines muþes gemet þonne mon me geofe geara þusende goldes and seolfres
handa me þine holde geworhton and gehiwedan mid higecræfte syle me nu andgyt þæt ic eall mæge þine bliþe bebodu beorhte leornian
þa þe on feore forhtigaþ þa me on fægere geseoþ and blissiaþ bu geþenceaþ þæt ic þinum wordum wel getreowde
ic þæt dryhten ongeat domas þine reþe rihtwise and þu ricene me on þinre soþfæstnesse dydest samed eadmedne
wese þin milde mod mihtum geswiþed and me to frofre fæste gestande swa þu on þinre spræce sped gehete þinum agenum esne æt þearfe
cumen me þine miltsa mihtum geswyþede and ic lange on þam lifian mote forþon me is metegung on modsefan hu ic æ þine efnast healde
beon þa oferhydegan ealle gescende þe me unrihte ahwær gretan ic þine bebodu bealde gegange
gehweorfen to me þa þe hyldu to þe egsan ahtan and ealle þa þe þine gewitnesse wise cuþan
wese heorte min on hige clæne and ic on þin soþfæst word symble getreowige þæt ic on ealdre ne wese æfre gescended
min saul gewearþ swancur on mode þær ic on þinre hælu hogode and sohte hu ic on þinum wordum wel getrywade
eagan me swylce eac teoredon þær on þinre spræce spede eodan cwædon cynlice hwa cwicenne me on þysum ealdre eft frefrade
ic eom nu geworden werum anlicast swa þu on hrime setest hlance cylle ne eom ic ofergyttol þæt ic ealle nu þine soþfæste weorc smicere healde
hwæt synt þinum esne ealra dagena þe þu mine ehtend for me ealle gedeme
me manwyrhtan manige on spellum sægdon soþlice na ic hit swa oncneow swa hit þin æ hafaþ ece dryhten
wærun þine ealle gebann æþele and soþfæst min ehtan oft unrihtwyrhtan gefultuma me fægere drihten
hio me lytle læs laþe woldan þisses eorþweges ende gescrifan ic þin gebod þa ne wolde on þysum ealdre anforlætan
æfter þinre þære myclan mildheortnesse weorþ me mihtig god milde and bliþe and ic gewitnesse wel gehealde muþes þines þe þu men lærdest
on ecnesse awa drihten þin word wunaþ weorþ on heofenum
and on worulda woruld wunaþ ece forþ þin soþfæstnes swylce dryhten
þu þas eorþan ealle worhtest swa heo nu to worulde wunian þenceaþ þurh þinra dæda sped dagas her gewuniaþ forþon þu ealles anweald hafast
þær me þin æ an ne hulpe þe ic on mode minum hæfde þonne ic wende on woruldlife þæt ic on minum eadmedum eall forwurde
ne mæg ic þæs æfre forgytan on ecnesse nymþe ic soþ word symble gehealde forþon ic cuþlice on þæm her nu cwicu lifige
ic eom þin hold scealc do þu halne me forþon ic þin soþ weorc sece geneahhe
me fyrenfulle fæcne seceaþ wyllaþ me laþe lifes asecean ic þine gewitnesse wat and sohte
ic soþ geseah and swylce wat ealre þysse worulde wurþeþ ende brad is þin gebann and beorht swyþe
hu ic æ þine ece drihten lustum lufode ic þæt lange dyde þæt ic þa on mode metegade georne
þu me snoterne gedydest swylce ofer mine feondas on foldan fæcne ealle forþon ic beorhtlice þine bebodu læste
ofer ealle þa þe me ær lærdon ic þæs hæfde andgyt æghwær gleawast þæt ic þine gewitnesse wise sohte
ic þæt ofer yldran oncneow and þæt a geheold þæt ic þine bebodu bliþe geheolde
ic minum fotum fæcne siþas þa wraþan wegas werede georne þæt ic þine word mihte wel gehealdan
na ic fram þinum domum dædum swicade forþon þu me æbebod ærest settest
me is on gomum god and swete þin agen word ece drihten hit is halwende hunige mycle and beobreade betere and swetre
on bebodum þinum ic me betst oncneow þæt ic unrihte wegas ealle ofeode forþon þu me æ þine ær gesettest
þæt is fæle blacern fotum minum þæt ic þin word drihten wel gehealde and þæt ys þæt strange leoht stige minre
ic aþas swor and eac hycge þæt ic soþne dom symble healde
and ic eadmedu ungemetum georne efnan þence forgif me ece god þæt ic æfter þinum wordum weorþe bliþe
mines muþes me modes willa on heahsælum hraþe gebringe and me þine domas alær drihten swylce
is sawl min symble on þinum holdum handum ne ic þine þa halgan æ on þysum ealdre forgitan æfre þence
me firenfulle fæcne gyrene awriþan wraþe and ne wolde ic fram þinum bebodum feor geswican
ic me eowde begeat æþele hæbbe þine gewitnesse wel getreowe on ecnesse awa to feore þæt byþ heahbliss heortan minre
ahylde ic mine heortan holde mode þæt ic þin soþfæst weorc symble worhte forþon ic þæs ece edlean hæbbe
and ic synfulle symble feode and ic æ þine elne lufade
þu me fultumian scealt fæle gestandan and andfenga æghwær æt þearfe and ic on þin word wel getreowe
gewitaþ fram me þe awyrgede synt þenden ic godes bebodu georne smeage
onfoh me freondlice fæle drihten æfter þam þe þu sylfa sægdest and cwæde þæt ic sceolde lifigan lange þrage ne gescend me on siþe nu ic þin swa onbad
gefultuma me fæste þonne beo ic fægere hal and ic þine soþfæstnysse symble þence
ealle þu forhogodest þa þe unrihtes wæran wyrhtan wat ic gearewe þæt heo on unriht ealle þohtan
ic oferhylmend ealle getealde þa on eorþan her yfele wæron forþon ic þine gewitnesse wyrþe lufade
gefæstna þinne egsan flæsce minum þæt ic me ondræde domas þine
ic soþne dom symble worhte ne syle þu me ehtendum æfre minum
onfoh þu þinum esne fægere mid gode þæt me oferhydige æfre ne motan hearmcwyddian hyldo ne gymaþ
hwæt me eagan mine atule gewurdan þær ic on þinre hælo hyldo sohte and on þinre spræce sped soþfæste
do þinum agenum esne swylce mycel milde mod and me mægene eac þin soþfæst word sylfa lære
ic eom esne þin syle andgit þæt ic þine gewitnesse wel leornige
þis is wynne tid þæt man eac wel do drihten ure ne læt þu dole æfre þin æbebod ahwær toweorpan
forþon ic þin bebod beorhte lufode þa me georne synd golde deorran topazion þæra teala gimma
forþon ic eall þin bebod elne healde and ic unrihte wegas ealle feoge
wundorlic is þin gewitnes wealdend dryhten forþon heo min sawl smeaþ and seceþ georne
worda me þinra wise onleohteþ beorhtnesse blæcern and þu bealde sylest andgit eallum eorþbuendum
muþ ic ontynde minne wide þæt me min oroþ ut afæmde þær ic þin bebod efnede mid willan
beseoh þu on me and me syþþan hraþe mære gemiltsa swa þu manegum dydest þe naman þinne nyde lufedon
gerece þu me swylce þæt ic on rihtne weg æfter þinre spræce spedum gange þy læs min ænig unriht ahwær wealde
ahrede me hearmcwidum heanra manna þæt ic þine bebodu bealde healde
do þine ansyne esne þinum leohte and leofe lær me syþþan hu ic þin soþfæst word selest gehealde
eagan mine gesawon hu yþa gelaac wid gang wætera wundrum gangeþ swa þam ilcum byþ þe ær nellaþ þinre æ bebod elne healdan
drihten is soþfæst synd his domas eac reþe mid ræde rihte gecyþde
hwæt þu soþfæst weorc symble hete on þinre gewitnesse wel gehealdan
ealles forgeaton þa me grame wæron worda þinra and me wa dydan me heard ehtnes huses þines on bearme me gebrohte oft þa þin word noldan wel gehealdan þa me feondas ær fæste wæron
is þin agen spræc innan fyren sylf swiþe hat and symble þa þin esne her ealle lufade
ic wæs on geoguþe grame me forhogedon næs ic ofergittol æfre hwæþere þæt ic þin soþ weorc symble heolde
is þin soþfæstnes symble drihten seo soþfæste and seo symble biþ on ecnesse awa to feore is þin swylce æþelnes and æ soþfæst
me costunga cnysdan geneahhe and nearonessa naman gelome ac ic þine bebodu efnde and læste eac on minum mode hi metegade georne
ys me þin gewitnes weorþast and rihtast and þa me on ece andgyt hæbbe syle me þa to soþe and ic syþþan lifige
ic mid ealle ongann inngehygde heortan minre hige to drihtne ceare cleopian he me cynlice hraþe gehyrde hyldo cuþe þæt ic his soþfæstnesse sohte geneahhe
ic cleopode to þe do me cuþlice halne heahcyning heofona wealdend hælende crist ic þæt hicge nu þæt ic þine bebodu bliþe gehealde
and ic þe on ripe forecom and hraþe swylce ceare cleopode þu me cynlice wel onfencge wistest gearwe þæt ic on þinum wordum wel getruwade
þe eagan mine eac forecoman on ærmergen ic elne ongann þine spræce spyrian georne
gehyr mine stefne halig drihten æfter þinre þære myclan mildheortnesse and æfter þinum domum do me halne
me syndon eahtend ungemete neah aa and þa synfullan syndan ealle hi fram æ þinre unneah gewiten
wes me swiþe neah wuldres drihten synt ealle þine wegas wise and cuþe
ic gewitnesse wise þine ongeat gleawlice þæt þu geara hi on ecnesse ær staþelodest
ac min eaþmedu geseoh eall ful georne genere niode nu me ned belæg forþon ic wolde æ þine elne healdan
dem minne dom and me deore alys for þinre spræce do me spedlice and cuþlice cwicne nu-þa
wærun fyrenfulle feor fælre hælu forþon hi þine soþfæstnesse secean noldan
miltsa synt þine mihtig drihten æfter þinum domum do me cwicne
ic manige geseah þe min ehton nolde ic cwic æfre swa þeah hwæþere þine gewitnesse wræste forlætan
ic manige geseah men þa þe noldan heora friþowære fæste healdan and ic þand wiþ þan þe hi teala noldan þinre spræce sped gehealdan
swylce ic sylf geseah þæt ic þin soþ bebod lustum lufige leofa drihten on þinre mildheortnesse me scealt acwician
þæt is weorþlic fruma worda þinra þæt þær byþ soþ symble meted and on ecnesse awa to feore ealle þine domas synt dædum geseþde
min earwunga ehtan ongunnon ealdurmanna gehwylc ungemete swiþe wearþ me heorte forht þær ic þin halig word on þinum egesan ærest æþelu tredde
ic blissige bealde mode ofer þinre spræce spede þa myclan swa se biþ bliþe se þe beorna reaf manige meteþ þær hit mannum losaþ
and ic unrihta gehwylc elne feode and onhyscte æghwær georne wolde ic æ þine elne lufian
swa ic þe seofon siþum symble wolde leofum lustlice lofsang cweþan daga æghwylce forþon ic þine domas wat on soþ fæste smicere gefylde
þam biþ sib mycel þe him þenceþ þæt hi naman þinne neode lufien ne biþ him æswic on þon æfre to feore
ic þinre hælu bad halig drihten and þine bebodu bealde lufode
hafaþ sawl min soþ gehealden þinre gewitnesse worda æghwylc and ic þa lustum lufade swiþe
heold ic þine bebodu holde mode and þine gewitnesse wordum trymede forþon ealle mine wegas wise syndan on þinre gesihþe soþe drihten
nu genealæceþ neode minum gebedum bealde þæt ic bidde nu on þinre gesihþe symble drihten æfter þinre spræce syle me spedlice þæt þu me generige niþa gehwylces
ingange min ben ece drihten on þinre gesihþe symble æt þearfe æfter þinre spræce do spedlice þæt þu me generige niþa gehwylces
nu mine weleras þe wordum belcettaþ ymnas elne gif þu me ærest wylt þine soþfæstnesse sylfa læran
hwæt tunge min teala foresægde hu þinre spræce spede eodan wærun eall þin bebodu æghwær rihtwis
syn me þine handa on hælu nu and þæt domlice gedon weorþe forþon ic þine bebodu geceas bealde æt þearfe
ic þinre hælu her wilnade drihten ælmihtig do me symble þæt ic æ þine elne metige
leofaþ sawl min and þe lustum hereþ and me þine domas dædum fultumiaþ
ic gedwelede swa þæt dysige scep þætte forweorþan wolde huru la sece þinne esne elne drihten forþon ic þinra beboda ne forgeat beorhtra æfre