The heavenly frame sets forth the fame 
Of him that only thunders; 
The firmament, so strangely bent, 
Shows his handworking wonders. 

Day unto day doth it display, 
Their course doth it acknowledge, 
And night to night succeeding right 
In darkness teach clear knowledge. 

There is no speech, no language which 
Is so of skill bereaved, 
But of the skies the teaching cries 
They have heard and conceived. 

There be no eyen but read the line 
From so fair book proceeding, 
Their words be set in letters great 
For everybody's reading. 

Is not he blind that doth not find 
The tabernacle builded 
There by His Grace for sun's fair face 
In beams of beauty gilded? 

Who forth doth come, like a bridegroom, 
From out his veiling places, 
As glad is he, as giants be 
To run their mighty races. 

His race is even from ends of heaven; 
About that vault he goeth; 
There be no realms hid from his beams; 
His heat to all he throweth. 

O law of His, how perfect 'tis 
The very soul amending; 
God's witness sure for aye doth dure 
To simplest wisdom lending. 

God's dooms be right, and cheer the sprite, 
All His commandments being 
So purely wise it gives the eyes 
Both light and force of seeing. 

Of Him the fear doth cleanness bear 
And so endures forever, 
His judgments be self verity, 
They are unrighteous never. 

Then what man would so soon seek gold 
Or glittering golden money? 
By them is past in sweetest taste, 
Honey or comb of honey. 

By them is made Thy servants' trade 
Most circumspectly guarded, 
And who doth frame to keep the same 
Shall fully be rewarded. 

Who is the man that ever can 
His faults know and acknowledge? 
O Lord, cleanse me from faults that be 
Most secret from all knowledge. 

Thy servant keep, lest in him creep 
Presumtuous sins' offenses; 
Let them not have me for their slave 
Nor reign upon my senses. 

So shall my sprite be still upright 
In thought and conversation, 
So shall I bide well purified 
From much abomination. 

So let words sprung from my weak tongue 
And my heart's meditation, 
My saving might, Lord, in Thy sight, 
Receive good acceptation!