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by Bible or other Sacred Texts
Translation by Matthew Parker, Archbishop (1504 - 1575)

Why fum'th in fight
 (Sung text for setting by T. Tallis)
 See original
Language: English  after the Latin 
1  Why fumeth in fight: the Gentils spite,
In fury raging stout?
Why taketh in hond: the people fond,
Uayne thinges to bring about?

2. The kinges arise: the lordes deuise,
in counsayles mett therto:
Agaynst the Lord: with false accord,
against his Christ they go.

3. Let vs they say: breake downe their ray,
of all their bondes and cordes:
We will renounce: that they pronounce,
their loores as stately lordes.

4. But God of might: in heauen so bright,
Shall laugh them all to scorne:
The Lord on hie: shall them defie,
they shall be once forlorne.

5. Then shall his ire: speake all in fire,
to them agayne therfore:
He shall with threate: their malice beate,
in his displeasure sore.

6. Yet am I set: a king so great,
on Sion hill full fast:
Though me they kill: yet will that hill,
my lawe and worde outcast.

7. Gods wordes decreed: I (Christ) wil sprede
for God thus sayd to me/e:
My sonne I say: thou art, this day,
I haue begotten the/e.

8. Aske thou of me/e: I will geue the/e,
to rule all Gentils londes:
Thou shalt possesse: in suernesse,
the world how wide it stondes.

9. With iron rod: as mighty God,
all rebels shalt thou bruse:
And breake them all: in pieces small,
as sherdes the potters vse.

10. Be wise therfore: ye kinges the more,
Receyue ye wisdomes lore:
Ye iudges strong: of right and wrong,
aduise you now before.

11. The Lorde in feare: your seruice beare,
with dread to him reioyce:
Let rages be: resist not ye,
him serue with ioyfull voyce.

12. The sonne kisse ye: lest wroth he be,
lose not the way of rest:
For when his ire: is set on fire,
who trust in hym be blest.

Composition:

    Set to music by Thomas Tallis (c1505 - 1585), "Why fum'th in fight", 1567, lines 1-8 [ chorus ], from [Nine] Tunes for Archbishop Parker's Psalter, no. 3

Text Authorship:

  • by Matthew Parker, Archbishop (1504 - 1575), "Psalm 2", first published 1567 [an adaptation]

Based on:

  • a text in Latin by Bible or other Sacred Texts , "Psalmus 2"
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2014-09-11
Line count: 48
Word count: 301

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