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10 lue wrath of man shall yield-thee The troubled depths themselves for fear

praise;

Its last attempts but serve to raise
the triumphs of Almighty power.
11 Vow to the Lord, ye nations; bring
Vow'd presents to the eternal King:

thus to his name due reverence pay, 12 Who proudest potentates can quell, To earthly kings more terrible,

than to their trembling subjects they.
PSALM 77.

To curly repair;
God I cry'd, who to my help

2 In trouble's dismal day I sought
my God with humble prayer.
All night my festering wound did run;
no medicine gave relief;
My soul no comfort would admit;
my soul indulged her grief.
8 I thought on God, and favours past;
but that increased my pain:
I found my spirit more oppress'd,
the more I did complain.

4 Through every watch of tedious night
thou keep'st my eyes awake:
My grief is swell'd to that excess,
I sigh but cannot speak.

5 I call'd to mind the days of old,
with signal mercy crown'd;
Those famous years of ancient times,
for miracles renown'd.

6 By night I recollect my songs,
on former triumphs made;
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withdrawn his favours quite?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
retired to endless night?

9 Can his long practised 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 lodged 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 deliverance crown'd.

16 When thee, O God, the waters saw, the frighted billows shrunk;

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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 seem'd

from her foundations hurl'd.

19 Through rolling streams thou find'st thy

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PSALM 78.

HEAR, O my people, to my law

devout attention lend;

Let the instruction of my mouth
deep in your hearts descend
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, conyey'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 iniracles
before their eyes display'd.

12 Nor wonders, which their fathers saw, 128 Within their trenches he let fali

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 piled on heaps, on either side
the sold waters stood.

14 A wondrous pillar led them on,
compos'd of shade and light;
A sheltering cloud it proved 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 dissolved into a tide.

16 Streams from the solid rock he brought, which down in rivers fell,

That, travelling with their camp, each day renew' 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 incensed 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 he 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 thankiess 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, relieved 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

26ecus table spread.

blow,

heaven he made an east wind

then did the south command

27 To rain down flesh like dust, and fowls Like sea's unnumber'd sand.

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the luscious easy prey;

And all around their spreading camp
the ready booty lay.

29 They fed,were fill'd; he gave them leave
their appetites to feast;

30, 31 Yet still their wanton lust craved on,
nor with their hunger ceased.

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 consumed 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 murmuring 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 repined,

When Israel's God refused to be

by their desires confined.

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 bloud,
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 catervillars reap'd
the harvest of their toil.

47Their vines with battering 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,

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50 He clear'd a passage for his wrath to ravage uncontroll'd; The murrain on their first lings seized, in every field and fold. 51 The deadly pest from

beast to man,

from field to city, came; It slew their heirs, their eldest hopes, through all the tents of Ham.

52 But his own tr.be, like folded sheep, 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 ceased his care, till them he brought safe to his promised land;

And to his holy mount, the prize

of his victorious hand.

55 To them the outcast heathen's land he did by lot divide;

And in their foe's abandon'd tents made Israel's tribes reside.

PART III.

56 Yet still they tempted, still provoked the wrath of God most high; Nor would to practise his commands their stubborn hearts apply;

57 But in their faithless fathers' steps perversely chose to go;

They turn'd aside, like arrows shot from some deceitful how.

58 For him to fury they provoked 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 ntimely did confound;

No virgin was to the altar led, with nuptial garlands crown'd. €4 In fight the sacrificer fell, the priest a victim bled;

And widows whe their death should mouru, themselves of grief were dead. 65 Then, as a giant roused from sleep, whom wine had throughly warn'd, Shouts out aloud, the Lord awaked, and his proud foe alarm'd.

66 He smote their host, that from the field a scatter'd remnant came, With wounds imprinted on their backs of everlasting shame.

167 With conquest crown'd, he Joseph's tents and Ephraim's tribe forsook;

68 But Judah chose, and Sion's mount
for his loved dwelling took.
69 His temple he erected there,

with spires exalted high;

While deep, and fix'd, as those of earth, the strong foundations lie.

70 His faithful servant David too he for his choice did own,

And from the sheepfolds him advanced
to set on Judah's throne.

71 From tending on the teeming ewes,
he brought him forth to feed
His own inheritance, the tribes

of Israel's chosen seed.

72 Exalted thus, the monarch proved a faithful shepherd still;

He fed them with an upright heart, and guided them with skill.

BE

PSALM 79,

EHOLD, O God, how heathen hosts have thy possession seized! Thy sacred house they have defiled, thy holy city razed

2 The mangled bodies of thy saints abroad unbury'd lay;

Their flesh exposed to savage beasts, and ravenous birds of prey.

3 Quite through Jerusalem was their blood like common water shed;

And none were left alive to pay

last duties to the dead.

4 The neighbouring lands our small remains with loud reproaches wound;

And we a laughing-stock are made

to all the nations round.

5 How long wilt thou be angry, Lord?
must we for ever mourn?
Shali thy devouring jealous rage,
like fire, for ever burn?

6 On foreign lands, that know not thee,
thy heavy vengeance shower;
Those sinful kingdoms let it crush,

that have not own'd thy power. 7 For their devouring jaws have prey'd on Jacob's chosen race; And to a barren desert turn'd their fruitful dwelling-place. 8 O think not on our former sins, but speedily prevent The utter ruin of thy saints,

almost with sorrow spent. 9 Thou God of our salvation, help, and free our souls from blame; So shall our pardon and defence exalt thy glorious name. 10 Let infidels, that scoffing say, "Where is the God they boast?" In vengeance for thy slaughter'd sainte perceive thee to their cost.

11 Lord, hear the sighing prisoner's moans,

PART III. thy saying power extend;

14 To thee, O God of hosts, we pray; Preserve the wretches doom'd to die, thy wonted goodness, Lord, renew; from that untimely end.

From heaven, thy throne, this vine survey, 12 Un them who us oppress, let all and her sad state with pity view. our sufferings be repaid;

15 Behold the vineyard made by thee, Make their confusion seven tines more which thy right hand did guard so long i than what on us they laid.

And keep that branch from danger free, 13 So we, thy people and thy flock, which for thyself thou mad'st so strong. shall ever praise thy name;

16 To wasting flames 'tis made a prey, And with glad hearts our grateful thanks, and all its spreading boughs cut down ; from age to age proclaim.

At thy rebuke they soon decay,
PSALM 80.

and perish at thy dreadsul frown. O

Israel's Shepherd, Joseph's Guide, 17 Crown thou the King with good success,

our prayers to thee vouchsafe to hear;) by thy right hand secured from wrong; Thou that dost on the Cherubs ride, The Son of Man in mercy bless, again in solemn state appear.

whom for thyself thou mad'st so strong. 2 Behold how Benjamin expects,

18 So shall we still continue free with Ephraim and Manasseh join'd, from whatsoe'er deserves thy blame; In our deliverance the effects

And, if once more revived by thee, of thy resistless strength to find. will always praise thy holy name. 3 Do thou convert us, Lord, do chou 19 Do thou convert us, Lord, do thou the lesstre of thy face display ;

the lustre of thy face display; And all the ills we suffer row,

And all the ills we suffer now, like scatter'd clouds, shall pass away.

like

scatter'd clouds shall pass away. 4 Othcu, whom heavenly hosts obey;

PSALM 81. how long shall thy fierce anger burn? How long thy suffering people pray,

To God, our never-failing strength,

with loud applauses sing; and to their prayers have no return? 5 When hungry, we are forced to drench And jointly make a cheerful noise

to Jacob's awful King. our scanty food in fioods of woe; When dry, our raging thirst we quench

2 Compose a hymn of praise, and touch with streams of tears that largely flow.

your instruments of joy ; 6 For us the heathen nations round,

Let psalteries and pleasant harps as for a common prey, contest;

your grateful skill employ. Our foes with spiteful joys abound,

3 Let trumpets at the great new moon and at our lost condition jest.

their joyful voices raise, 7 Do thou convert us, Lord, do thou

To celebrate th' appointed time, the lustre of thy face display;

the solemn day of praise. And all the ills we suffer row,

4 For this a statute was of old, like scatter'd clouds, ahal' pass away.

which Jacob's God decreed; PART II.

To be with pious care chserved 8 Thou brought'st a vine from Egypt's land; 5 This he for a memorial fix?d,

by Israel's chosen seed. and, casting out the heathen race, Didst plant it with thine own right hand, Strange nations barbarous speech we heard,

when, freed from Egypt's land, and firmly fix it in their place. 9 Before it thou preparedst the way,

but could not understand. and mad'st it take a lasting root,

16 Your burden'd shoulders I relieved, Which, bless'd with thy indulgent ray,

(thus seems our God to say)

Your servile hands by me were freed o'er all the land did widely shoot. 10,11 The hills were covered with its shade, 7 Zvur ancestors,

with wrougs oppressius

from labouring in the clay. its goodly boughs did cedars seem; Its branches to the sea were spread,

to me for aid did call; and reach'd to proud Euphrates' stream. With pity I their sufferings saw, 12 Why then hast thou its hedge d'erthrown,

and set them free from all. wirich thou hadst made so firm and strong! They sought for me, and from the cloud Whilst all its grapes, defenceless grown,

in thunder I reply'd; are pluck'd by those that pass along.

At Meribah's contentious stream 3 See how the bristling forest boar

their faith and duty try'd. with dreadful fury lays it waste;

PART II. Hark! how the savage monsters roar, 8 While I my solemn will declare, and to their helpless prey make haste.

iny chosen people, hear :

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