Help, Lord, for wasted are those men (William Byrd)

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• (Posted 2022-11-12)  CPDL #71536:        (LilyPond)

Editor: Allen Garvin (submitted 2022-11-12).   Score information: Letter, 5 pages, 93 kB   Copyright: CC BY NC

Edition notes: All voices fully texted with all verses (last half-stanza is repeated).

• (Posted 2003-01-26)  CPDL #04550:        (Sibelius 4)

Editor: David Fraser (submitted 2003-01-26).   Score information: A4, 4 pages, 105 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Revised August 08.

General Information

Title: Help Lord for wasted are those men
Composer: William Byrd

Number of voices: 5vv   Voicing: SAATB
Genre: Sacred, Sacred song

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1588 in Psalmes, Sonnets and Songs, no. 7
Description: 

Original text and translations

English text

Help Lord for wasted are those men,
which right’usnesse embrace:
And rarely found that faithfull are,
but all the truth deface.

Each to his neighbour falsehood speakes
and them seekes to beguile:
With flattering lips and double heart,
when smoothest hee doth smile.

All flattering lips, the Lord our God,
in justice will confound:
And all proud tongues, that vaunt great things
hee will bring to the ground.

Our tongues say they shall lift us up,
by them wee shall prevail:
Who should us let, or stop our course,
that thereof wee should faile.

For the destruction of the just,
and such as bee opprest:
And for the mournings of the poore,
that likewise bee distrest.

I will ryse up now saith the Lord,
and ease their griefe and care:
Of those which hee full craftely,
hath draw’n into his snare.

Like silver fine that tried is,
seven times by heate of fire:
So are thy words Lord pure and cleane,
to such as them desire.

Thou Lord wilt keepe, and wilt defend,
all such as in thee trust:
And from that cursed race of men,
save all such as bee just.

When evill men exalted bee,
the wicked gad about:
Farre from all feare of paine, but thou
O Lord wilt roote them out.

(Anonymous metrical version of Psalm 12)