Then search, consult, and ask my heart, where's now that wondrous aid? 7 Has God for ever cast us off? withdrawn his favours quite ? 8 Are both his mercy and his truth retir'd to endless night? 9 Can his long practis'd love forget its wonted aids to bring ? Has he in wrath shut up and seal'd his mercy's healing spring ? 10 I said, my weakness hints these fears; but I'll my fears disband ; I'll yet remember the Most High, and years of his right hand. 11 I'll call to mind his works of old, the wonders of his might; 12 On them my heart shall meditate, my tongue shall them recite. 13 Safe lodg’d from human search on high, O God, thy counsels are! Who is so great a God as ours ? who can with him compare ? 14 Long since a God of wonders thee thy rescued people found; 15 Long since hast thou thy chosen seed with strong deliv'rance crown'd. 16 When thee, O God, the waters saw, the frighted billows shrunk ; The troubled depths themselves for fear beneath their channels sunk. 17 The clouds pour'd down, while rending skies did with their noise conspire; Thy arrows all abroad were sent, wing'd with avenging fire. 18 Heaven with thy thunder's voice was torn, whilst all the lower world With lightnings blazed ; earth shook, and seemd from her foundations hurl'd. 19 Through rolling streams thou find'st thy way, thy paths in waters lie; Thy wondrous passage, where no sight thy footsteps can descry. 20 Thou ledd'st thy people like a flock, safe through the desert land, By Moses, their meek skilful guide, and Aaron's sacred hand. PSALM LXXVIII. 1 TEAR, O my people, to my law 1 devout attention lend; Let the instruction of my mouth deep in your hearts descend. HE 2 My tongue, by inspiration taught, shall parables unfold, Dark oracles, but understood, and own'd for truths of old : 3 Which we from sacred registers of ancient times have known, And our forefathers' pious care to us has handed down. 4 We will not hide them from our sons; our offspring shall be taught The praises of the Lord, whose strength has works of wonder wrought. 5 For Jacob he this law ordain'd, this league with Israel made; With charge to be from age to age, from race to race, convey'd. 6 That generations yet to come should to their unborn heirs Religiously transmit the same, and they again to theirs. 7 To teach them that in God alone their hope securely stands; That they should ne'er his works forget, but keep his just commands. 8 Lest, like their fathers, they might prove a stiff rebellious race, False-hearted, fickle to their God, unsteadfast in his grace. 9 Such were revolting Ephraim's sons, who, though to warfare bred, And skilful archers, arm'd with bows, from field ignobly fled. 10, 11 They falsified their league with God, his orders disobey'd, Forgot his works and miracles before their eyes display'd. 12 Nor wonders, which their fathers saw, did they in mind retain, Prodigious things in Egypt done, and Zoan's fertile plain. 13 He cut the sea to let them pass, restrain'd the pressing flood; While pild on heaps, on either side the solid waters stood. 14 A wondrous pillar led them on, compos'd of shade and light; A shelt'ring cloud it prov'd by day, a leading fire by night. 15 When drought oppress'd them, where no stream the wilderness supply'd, He cleft the rock, whose flinty breast dissolv'd into a tide. 16 Streams from the solid rock he brought, which down in rivers fell, That, trav’lling with their camp, each day renew'd the miracle. 17 Yet there they sinn'd against him more, provoking the Most High, In that same desert where he did their fainting souls supply. 18 They first incens'd him in their hearts, that did his power distrust, And long'd for meat, not urged by want, but to indulge their lust. 19 Then utter'd their blaspheming doubts ; “Can God,” say they,“ prepare “ A table in the wilderness, set out with various fare? 20 “ He smote the flinty rock, 'tis true, and gushing streams ensued; “ But can he corn and flesh provide “ for such a multitude?'' 21 The Lord with indignation heard: from heaven avenging flame On Jacob fell, consuming wrath on thankless Israel came: 22 Because their unbelieving hearts in God would not confide, Nor trust his care, who had from heaven their wants so oft supply'd; 23 Though he had made his clouds discharge provisions down in showers; And when earth fail'd, reliev'd their needs from his celestial stores; 24 Though tasteful manna was rain'd down, their hunger to relieve; Though from the stores of heaven they did sustaining corn receive. 25 Thus man with angels' sacred food, ungrateful man was fed; Not sparingly, for still they found a plenteous table spread. 26 From heaven he made an east wind blow, then did the south command 27 To rain down flesh like dust, and fowls like sea's unnumber'd sand. 28 Within their trenches he let fall the luscious easy prey; And all around their spreading camp the ready booty lay. 29 They fed, were filld; he gave them leave their appetites to feast; 30, 31 Yet still their wanton lust crav'd on, nor with their hunger ceas'd. But whilst in their luxurious mouths they did their dainties chew, The wrath of God smote down their chiefs, and Israel's chosen slew. PART II. 32 Yet still they sinn'd, nor would afford his miracles belief: 33 Therefore through fruitless travels he consum'd their lives in grief. 34 When some were slain, the rest return'd to God with early cry; 35 Own'd him the Rock of their defence, their Saviour, God most high. 36 But this was feign'd submission all; their heart their tongue bely'd; 37 Their heart was still perverse, nor would firm in his league abide. 38 Yet, full of mercy, he forgave, nor did with death chastise; But turn'd his kindled wrath aside, or would not let it rise. 39 For he remember'd they were flesh, that could not long remain; A murm’ring wind, that's quickly past, and ne'er returns again. 40 How oft did they provoke him there, how oft his patience grieve, In that same desert where he did their fainting souls relieve! 41 They tempted him by turning back, and wickedly repin'd, When Israel's God refus'd to be by their desires confin'd. 42 Nor call'd to mind the hand and day that their redemption brought; 43 His signs in Egypt, wondrous works in Zoan's valley wrought. 44 He turn'd their rivers into blood, that man and beast forbore, And rather chose to die of thirst, than drink the putrid gore. 45 He sent devouring swarms of flies; hoarse frogs annoy'd their soil; 46 Locusts and caterpillars reap'd the harvest of their toil. 47 Their vines with batt'ring hail were broke; with frost the fig-tree dies; 48 Lightning and hail made flocks and herds one general sacrifice. 49 He turn'd his anger loose, and set no time for it to cease; And with their plagues ill angels sent, their torments to increase. to ravage uncontrol'd; in every field and fold. . from field to city, came; through all the tents of Ham. he brought from their distress; And them conducted like a flock, throughout the wilderness. 53 He led them on, and in their way no cause of fear they found; But march'd securely through those deeps, in which their foes were drown'd. 54 Nor ceas'd his care, till them he brought safe to his promis'd land; of his victorious hand. he did by lot divide; PART III. the wrath of God most high; Nor would to practise his commands their stubborn hearts apply; perversely chose to go; from some deceitful bow. with altars set on high; And with their graven images inflamed his jealousy. 59 When God heard this, on Israel's tribes, his wrath and hatred fell; 60 He quitted Shiloh, and the tents where once he chose to dwell. 61 To vile captivity his ark, his glory to disdain, 62 His people to the sword he gave, nor would his wrath restrain. 63 Destructive war their ablest youth untimely did confound; No virgin was to th' altar led, with nuptial garlands crown'd. |