How shall a young man (William Byrd)

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  • CPDL #5341: Icon_pdf.gif Icon_snd.gif
Editor: David Fraser (added 2003-07-16).   Score information: A4, 4 pages, 140 kbytes   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: Revised March 2008

General Information

Title: How shall a young man
Composer: William Byrd

Number of voices: 5vv   Voicing: SATTB

Genre: Sacred, Sacred song

Language: English
Instruments: a cappella
Published: Psalmes, Sonnets & Songs (1588), no.4

Description:

External websites:

Original text and translations

English.png English text

How shall a young man prone to ill,
clense his unbridled heart?
If that thy law, O Lord hee doe,
all frailtie set apart.

Embrace with setled minde, and learne
thy word with care to keepe:
And seek to find with humble sprite,
thy judgements that are deepe.

With my whole heart I have thee sought,
and searched out thy way:
O suffer not that from thy word,
I swarve or goe astray.

Thy woord O Lord, within my heart,
least I should thee offend:
I have laid up as treasure great,
for that shall mee defend.

The Lord is blest, hee shall me teach,
the judgements of his mouth,
Thereby to rule and dresse the waies,
of my untamed youth.

Thy laws therefore in open place,
my lippes shall ever sound:
And never faile to shew forth that,
to which thou hast mee bound.

For in the way of thy precepts,
I set my whole delight:
No wealth, no treasure of the world,
so precious in my sight.

What thou command’st I will think on,
With diligent respect:
And to thy lawes have due regard,
for they shall mee protect.

In thy precepts O Lord, my soule
her whole delight hath set:
Thy words therefore more pure than gold,
I never will forget.

(Metrical version of Psalm 119: 9-16)