My soul oppressed with care (William Byrd)

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Editor: David Fraser (added 2003-11-09). Score information: A4, 6 pages, 119 kbytes Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: Revised 12/06 (completely reset from original printed source)

Title: My soul oppressed with care
Composer: William Byrd

Number of voices: 5vv Voicing: SATTB

Genre: Sacred, Anthem

Language: English

Instruments: a cappella

Published: Psalmes, Sonnets & Songs (1588), no.3

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English text

My soule opprest with care and griefe,
doth cleave unto the dust:
O quicken mee after thy woord,
for therein doe I trust.

My waies unto thee have I shew’d,
thou answerest mee againe:
Teach mee thy law and so I shall,
bee eased of my paine.

The way of thy commandments Lord,
make mee to understand:
And I will muse uppon the power
And wonders of thy hand.

My heart doth melt and pine away,
for verie paine and griefe:
O, raise mee up, after thy word
And send mee some reliefe.

All falsehood, and false waies O Lord,
doe thou from mee remove:
And graunt mee grace to know thy law
And onely that to love.

The way of truth I choose to tread,
to keepe my life in awe:
And see before me as a marke,
Thy sacred woord and law.

I cleave, O Lord, unto all things,
witnessed by thy speech:
Whereof that I repent mee not
I humbly thee beseech.

When that my heart thou shalt enlarge,
to seeke and run the waies:
Of thy precepts, I will not faile,
the length of all my daies.

Metrical version of Psalm 119: 25-32