Bonum est

Verse 1

It is a thing both good and meet to praise the highest Lord, And to thy Name, O thou most High, to sing with one accord:

Verse 2

To shew the kindness of the Lord, before the day be light, And to declare his truth abroad, when it doth draw to night,

Verse 3

On a ten stringed instrument, on lute and harp so sweet, With all the mirth you can invent of instruments most meet.

Verse 4

For thou hast made me to rejoice in things so wrought by thee, That I have joy in heart and voice thy handy-works to see.

Verse 5

O Lord, how glorious and how great are thy works round about? So deeply are thy counsels set, that none can find them out:

Verse 6

The man unwise cannot tell how this work to pass to bring, And fools also are most unfit to understand this thing.

Verse 7

When as the wicked at their will like grass do spring full fast, And when they flourish in their ill, they suddenly shall waste.

Verse 8

But thou art mighty, Lord most high, and thou dost reign therefore In glory and great majesty, both now and evermore.

Verse 9

Behold, O Lord, thy enemies shall be destroy'd alway, And all that work iniquity shall perish and decay.

Verse 10

But thou, like as an unicorn shalt lift mine horn on high; With fresh and new prepared oil anointed king am I;

Verse 11

And of my foes before my eyes shall see the fall and shame, Of all that do against me rise, my ears shall hear the same.

Verse 12

The righteous flourish shall on high, as palm-trees bud and blow, And as the cedars multiply, in Libanus that grow.

Verse 13

For they are planted in the place and dwelling of our God; Within his courts they spring apace, and flourish all abroad:

Verse 14

And in their age much fruit shall bring, most pleasant to' be seen, And also shall both bud and spring with boughs and branches green;

Verse 15

To shew that God is good and just, and upright in his will: He is my rock, my hope, and trust, in him there is no ill.