Psalm 78

MY people to my Law give ear,
Unto my speech incline:
For lo my mouth shall open here
A parable divine.
Dark sayings treasur'd up of old,
I'l utter now to you:
Things which our fathers have us told,
And what we heard and knew.
We will not from their seed conceal,
But with a joint accord,
Unto the future age reveal
The praises of the LORD.
And all his wonders excellent,
Perform'd by powerfull hand:
For he ordain'd a Testament,
In Jacob firm to stand.
For Isr'el he a law decreed,
And gave our fathers charge,
That they to their ensuing seed
Should make them known at large.
That th'age to come and following race,
His Testaments might know:
Who should arise in fathers place,
And them to theirs might show.
That they on God their hope might s•,
Not from his laws remove:
Nor Gods almighty works forget,
Not like their fathers prove.
A stubborn and rebellious brood,
Whose hearts were wrong inclin'd:
Whose soul with God unstedfast stood,
Still wavering in their mind.

2. Part.
THe sons of Ephraim carrying bows,
Nor did they armour lack,
In day of battell with their foes,
Faint-hearted turned back.
God cov'nant they regarded not,
Nor for his precepts car'd:
But all his wondrous works forgot,
Which he to them declar'd.
Most wondrous works by his right hand,
Had their forefathers known,
Accomplished in Aegypt land,
And in the fields of Zoan.
The Sea he did in parts divide,
And made them passage there:
With clatt'ring heaps on either side,
He made moist waters rear.
He also in the time of day,
A cloud their guide assign'd:
And all night long he made them way,
With lights of fire that shin'd.
The stony rocks he also clave,
Within the desert ground:
And store of drink to them he gave,
As out of deeps profound.
Fresh streams did he from Horeb bring,
And made fresh waters thence
Run down like Rivers from a spring:
Yet gave they more offence,
G•ev'd God most high in desert ground,
By provocations great:
And tempted God with heart unsound,
By lustfull asking meat.
Yea thus they said, controlling God,
Can God spread tables here?
Lo, tho the rock obey'd his rod,
Can deserts yield good cheere?
The waters gusht from rocks hard side,
And streams did overflow:
But for his people flesh provide,
And can he bread bestow?

3. Part.
GOd heard therfore, and was incenst,
'Gainst Jacob fire did flame:
And anger also came agenst
All Isr'el for the same.
'Cause they on God did not relie,
Nor in this Saviour hope:
Though he had charg'd the lostie skie,
And heavens dore set ope.
And rain'd down Manna for their meat,
And gave them for their fare
The corn of heaven: Man did eat
The food of Angels rare.
He fed them full with food good store:
He sent an Eastern wind:
His power set ope the Southern dore,
Both execute his mind.
He rain'd upon his people flesh,
Like Summers dust for store:
And feathered fowl he brought them fresh
As sands upon the shore.
In midst of all the camp throughout
He let it gently fall:
And there disperst it round about
Their habitations all.
So they did plentifully eat;
And were suffi•'d and fill'd:
For he did give them, look what meat
Themselves desir'd and will'd.
Estrang'd they were not from their lust,
But while they chew'd their meat,
The wrath of God assaults them just
Before they could it eat.
The fattest of them, there he slew,
And, smiting down, did kill
The chosen men, all Israel through:
And yet they sinned still.
For all his wonders was their crime
Most shamefull unbelief:
He therfore made them spend their time
In vanity and grief.

4. Part.
WHen he destructiō on them brought,
And many of them were flain,
Then they for God inquir'd and sought,
And turn'd to him again.
With early care to him they flock,
And then they call to mind
That God the high God was their rock,
And their Redeemer kind.
But yet for all this goodly show,
While their fair words intreat,
They did but lie, and flatter tho,
With teeth and tongues deceit.
For neither was their heart upright,
Nor to his cov'nant clave:
Yet he in mercy infinite
Their wickedness for gave.
And would not overthrow them quite,
But did his wrath asswage
Full many a time: nor would excite
The utmost of his rage.
For graciously he call'd to mind,
How that they were but flesh:
A temporary fading wind,
That doth not come afresh.
How oft did they provoke his rod,
When they in deserts were?
Revolting, grieving, tempting God
While they continued there.
And Israels only one confin'd,
His hand that sav'd them so;
Nor yet that day they call'd to mind
That quit them from the •o.

5. Part.
THey did not keep in memory
What signs in Egypt land
Were brought to pass before their eye
By Gods almighty hand.
In Zoan field his wonders strange
When every ford and flood,
And every river he did change
Into a lake of blood.
That they to drink thereof abhor'd,
Devouring flies annoy'd
Of divers sort sent from the LORD,
And croaking frogs destroy'd.
He let the Caterpillers eat
The fruit of all their soil:
And gave their labours hopefull sweat,
To be the Locusts spoil.
The hail destroy'd their tender vines,
And wealth of their quick stock:
The frost destroy'd the sycamines,
Hot thunder-bolt their flocks
Upon them did his wrath severe,
And indignation fall:
God sending evill Angels there,
To vex and plague them all.
He for his anger made a lane,
Nor spar'd their soul from death:
But gave their lives unto the b•ne
Of pestilentiall breath.
First-born of all the creatures there
In Egypt he did smite;
Within the land of Ham that were
The chief of all their might.

6. Part.
GOD for his people did provide,
That they went out like sheep,
Whom safe through deserts he did guide,
As flocks which shepheards keep.
He led them safe and free from fear,
But in the briny waves
Their en'mies overwhelmed were,
The seas became their graves.
To borders of the holy land
The Lord his people led,
•he mountain which his own right hand
With pow'r had purchased.
The heathen too he did expel,
And did their lands assigne
And heritage to Israel,
Dividing it by line.
He made his tribes dwel in their tents
Yet tempt they God most high,
And kept not his commandements;
Provoking God thereby.
Unfaithfully they backward slide,
And all false dealing show;
And like their fathers turn'd aside,
Like a deceitfull bow.
With places which they built on high
They did the Lords displease;
And moved him to jealousie
With graven Images.
God heard it, and was angry then
Abhorring Israel sore:
The tents at Shiloh plac'd with men
He would come at no more.
To bondage in another land,
His strength he (careless) gave,
And from his foes prevailing hand
His glory would not save.
To cruell swords devouring rage,
He gave his people o're:
Against his chosen heritage
His wrath was kindled sore.
Consum'd with fire their young men were,
Their virgins nuptials fail'd:
Their Priests were slain with sword and spear,
No widowes them bewail'd.

7. Part.
THen to awake the Lord began,
As one from sleep doth start;
And shouting like a mighty man,
When wine hath cheer'd his heart.
In hinder parts prodigiously,
He smote his bed-rid foes:
Whom to perpetuall infamy
He thereby did expose.
Joseph likewise and Ephraim
He did their tents refuse:
But Sion mount belov'd of him,
And Judah's tribe did chuse.
There rais'd his sanctuary's head,
Like high rear'd palace sure:
Like earth which he established
For ever to indure.
His servant David he did chuse,
And him from sheep folds bring:
From following the great belli'd Ews,
And brought him to be king.
To regall throne did him advance,
That he might daily feed
All Isr'el his inheritance,
His people Jacobs seed.
After his hearts integrity,
So he all Israel fed;
And disciplin'd with policie
His people safely led.