25 Whom then in heaven, but thee alone, Have I, whose favour I require? Throughout the spacious earth there's none That I besides thee can desire. 26 My trembling flesh, and aching heart, 27 For they that far from me remove, If after other gods they rove, Thy vengeance shall destroy them all. And will his wondrous works declare. PSALM LXXIV. WHY hast thou cast us off, O God? Wilt thou no more return? O! why against thy chosen flock 2 Think on thy ancient purchase, Lord, By thee redeem'd; and Sion's mount, 3 O! come and view our ruin'd state; 4 Thy foes blaspheme thy name: where late Thy zealous servants pray'd, The heathen there, with haughty pomp, 5, 6 Those curious carvings, which did once Advance the artist's fame, With axe and hammer they destroy, Like works of vulgar frame. 7 Thy holy temple they have burn'd; Where we thy praise proclaim'd. 9 Yet of thy presence thou vouchsaf'st We have no prophet now, that knows PART II. 10 But, Lord, how long wilt thou permit Th' insulting foe to boast? Shall all the honour of thy name For evermore be lost? 11 Why hold'st thou back thy strong right hand, And on thy patient breast, When vengeance calls to stretch it forth, 12 Thou heretofore, with kingly power, For us, throughout the wond'ring world, 13 'Twas thou, O God, who didst the sea Thou break'st the wat'ry monsters' heads; 15 Thou clav'st the solid rock, and mad'st The waters largely flow; Again, thou mad'st through parted streams 16 Thine is the cheerful day, and thine 17 By thee the borders of the earth The summer's warmth, and winter's cold. Attend on thy command. PART III. 18 Remember, Lord, how scornful foes 19 O! free thy mourning turtle-dove, 20 Thy ancient cov'nant, Lord, regard, Each day thy name profane. 23 Make thou the boastings of thy foes Whose insolence, if unchastis'd, To thee, O God, we render praise, To thee, with thanks repair; 3 The land with discord shakes; but I And warn'd bold sinners, that they should 5 Bear not yourselves so high, as if 6 For that promotion, which to gain 7 For God the great disposer is, 8 His hand holds forth a dreadful cup; Of this his saints sometimes may taste; 9 His prophet, I, to all the world 10 The wicked's pride I will reduce, Their cruelty disarm; Exalt the just, and seat him high PSALM LXXVI. N Judah the Almighty's known, His name in Jacob does excel: 3 He brake the bow and arrows there, 4 Whence Sion's fame through earth is spread, Of greater glory, greater dread, Than hills where robbers lodge their prey. 5 Their valiant chiefs, who came for spoil, Themselves met there a shameful foil: Securely down to sleep they lay; 'Gainst his, that did their legions slay. 6 When Jacob's God began to frown, Both horse and charioteers, o'erthrown, Together slept in endless night: 7 When thou, whom earth and heav'n revere, Dost once with wrathful look appear, What mortal power can stand thy sight? 8 Pronounc'd from heaven, earth heard its doom, Grew hush'd with fear, when thou didst come 9 The meek with justice to restore: 10 The wrath of man shall yield thee 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 th' eternal King; Thus to his name due rev'rence pay, 12 Who proudest potentates can quell, To earthly kings more terrible, Than to their trembling subjects they. To God I cry'd, who to my help 2 In trouble's dismal day I sought 3 I thought on God, and favours past; 4 Through every watch of tedious night 5 I call'd to mind the days of old, Those famous years of ancient times, 6 By night I recollect my songs, Then search, consult, and ask my heart, 7 Has God for ever cast us off? 9 Can his long practis'd love forget Has he in wrath shut up and seal'd 10 I said, my weakness hints these fears; I'll yet remember the Most High, 12 On them my heart shall meditate, 13 Safe lodg'd from human search on high, Who is so great a God as ours? 15 Long since hast thou thy chosen seed 16 When thee, O God, the waters saw, The troubled depths themselves for fear 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 Heav'n with thy thunder's voice was torn, Whilst all the lower world With lightnings blaz'd, earth shook, and seem'd From her foundations hurl'd. 19 Through rolling streams thou find'st try way, Thy paths in waters lie; Thy wond'rous passage, where no sight 20 Thou lead'st thy people like a flock PSALM LXXVIII. HEAR, O my people, to my law Devout attention lend; Let the instruction of my mouth And own'd for truths of old: 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 7 To teach them that in God alone That they should ne'er his works forget, 8 Lest, like their fathers they might prove 9 Such were revolting Ephraim's sons, 10, 11 They falsified their league with God, Before their eyes display'd. 12 Nor wonders, which their fathers saw, 13 He cut the seas to let them pass, 14 A wondrous pillar led them on, A shelt ring cloud it prov'd by day, 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 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, And long'd for meat, not urg'd by want, 19 Then utter'd their blaspheming doubts; 21 The Lord with indignation heard: 22 Because their unbelieving hearts Nor trust his care, who had from heav'n 23 Though he had made his clouds discharge Provisions down in show'rs; And when earth fail'd, reliev'd their needs 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 trenehes he let fall And all around their spreading camp 29 They fed, were fill'd; he gave them leave Their appetites to feast; 30, 31 Yet still their wanton lust crav'd on, But whilst in their luxurious mouths, The wrath of God smote down their chiefs 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. 56 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 merey, 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, A murm'ring wind, that's quickly past, 40 How oft did they provoke him there, In that same desert, where he did 41 They tempted him by turning back, When Israel's God refus'd to be By their desires confin'd. 42 Nor call'd to mind the hand and day 44 He turn'd their rivers into blood, 45 He sent devouring swarms of flies; The harvest of their toil. 47 Their vines with batt'ring hail were broke; With frost the fig-tree dies; 48 Lightning and hail make flocks and herds One gen'ral sacrifice. 49 He turn'd his anger loose, and set No time for it to cease; 50 He clear'd a passage for his wrath 51 The deadly pest from beast to man, It slew their heirs, their eldest hopes, 52 But his own tribe, like folded sheep, 53 He led them on, and in their way But march'd securely through those deeps, In which their toes were drown'd. 54 Nor ceas'd his care, till them be brought Safe to his promis'd land; And to his holy mount, the prize Of his victorious hand. 55 To them the outcast heathen's land And in their foes' abandon'd tents PART III. 56 Yet still they tempted, still provok'd 57 But in their faithless fathers' steps They turn'd aside, like arrows shot 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. 81 To vile captivity his ark, His glory to disdain, 62 His people to the sword he gave, Nor would his wrath restrain. 83 Destructive war their ablest youth No virgin was to th' altar led, And widows, who their death should mourn, 66 He smote their host, that from the field 67 With conquest crown'd, he Joseph's tents And Ephraim's tribe forsook; 68 But Judah chose, and Sion's mount For his lov'd dwelling took. 69 His temple he erected there, While deep, and fix'd, as those of earth, 70 His faithful servant David too He for his choice did own, And from the sheepfolds him advanc'd Of Israel's chosen seed. 72 Exalted thus, the monarch prov'd PSALM LXXIX. EHOLD, O God, how heathen hosts B Have thy possession seiz'd! Thy sacred house they have defil'd, 2 The mangled bodies of thy saints Their flesh expos'd to savage beasts, 2 Quite through Jerus'lem was their blood Like common water shed; And none were left alive to pay Last duties to the dead. 4 The neighb'ring lands our small remains With loud reproaches wound; And we a laughing-stock are made 5 How long wilt thou be angry, Lord? 6 On foreign lands, that know not thec, And to a barren desert turn'd 9 Thou God of our salvation, help, Exalt thy glorious name. 10 Let infidels, that scoffing say, 11 Lord, hear the sighing pris'ner's moans, 12 On them who us oppress let all Make their confusion sev'n times more 13 So we, thy people and thy flock, And with glad hearts our grateful thanks, From age to age proclaim. PSALM LXXX. Israel's Shepherd, Joseph's guide, Our prayers to thee vouchsafe to hear; Thou that dost on the Cherubs ride, Again in solemn state appear. 2 Behold how Benjamin expects, With Ephraim and Manasseh join'd, In our deliv'rance the effects Of thy resistless strength to find. Like scatter'd clouds, shall pass away. 4 Othou, whom heavenly hosts obey, How long shall thy fierce anger burn? How long thy suff'ring people pray, And to their prayers have no return? 5 When hungry, we are forc'd to drench Our scanty food in floods of woe; When dry, our raging thirst we quench With streams of tears that largely flow. 6 For us the heathen nations round, As for a common prey, contest; Our foes with spiteful joy's abound, And at our lost condition jest. 7 Do thou convert us, Lord, do thou The lustre of thy face display, And all the ills we suffer now, Like scatter'd clouds, shall pass away. PART II. 8 Thou brought'st a vine from Egypt's land; 9 Before it thou prepar'dst the way, 10, 11 The hills were cover'd with its shade, And reach'd to proud Euphrates' stream. 12 Why then hast thou its hedge o'erthrown, Which thou hast made so firm and strong? Whilst all its grapes, defenceless grown, Are pluck'd by those that pass along. 13 See how the bristling forest-boar With dreadful fury lays it waste; Hark! how the savage monsters roar, And to their helpless prey make haste. PART III. 14 To thee, O God of hosts, we pray; Thy wonted goodness, Lord, renew; From heaven, thy throne, this vine survey, And her sad state with pity view. 15 Behold the vineyard made by thee, Which thy right hand did guard so long; And keep that branch from danger free, Which for thyself thou mad'st so strong. 16 To wasting flames 'tis made a prey, And all its spreading boughs cut down; At thy rebuke they soon decay, And perish at thy dreadful frown. 17 Crown thou the King with good success, By thy right hand secur'd from wrong; The Son of Man in mercy bless, Whom for thyself thou mad'st so strong. 18 So shall we still continue free From whatsoe'er deserves thy blame; Will always praise thy holy name. Like scatter'd clouds, shall pass away. PSALM LXXXI. ToGod, our never-failing strength, With loud applauses sing; And jointly make a cheerful noise 2 Compose a hymn of praise, and touch Let psalteries and pleasant harps 3 Let trumpets at the great new moon To celebrate th' appointed time, 5 This he for a memorial fix'd, 6 Your burden'd shoulders I reliev❜d, Your servile hands by me were freed, 7 Your ancestors, with wrongs oppress'd, With pity I their suff'rings saw, And set them free from all. They sought for me, and from the cloud At Meribah's contentious stream PART II. 8 While I my solemn will declare, My chosen people, hear: If thou, O Israel, to my words Wilt lend thy list'ning ear; Of all the nations round. 10 The Lord thy God am I, who thee Brought forth from Egypt's land; 'Tis I that all thy just desires Supply with lib'ral hand. 11 But they, my chosen race, refus'd Nor would rebellious Israel's sons And in their own perverse designs 13 O that my people wisely would With pious care proceed! 14 Then should my heavy judgments fall On all that them oppose, And my avenging hand be turn'd 15 Their enemies and mine should all But as for them, their happy state Should never know an end. 16 All parts with plenty should abound; |