Religion

Psalm 114

by John White 1575–1648

From Davids Psalms in Metre (1655)

Religion

WHen Israel out from Egypt went,
and Jacobs family
From people of strange language came
with a strong hand and high.
His sanctuary Judah was,
his holy place was there,
And his dominion Israel,
and they his people were.

The Sea saw that, and at the sight
as men away did fly,
And back the river Jordans streams
were driven mightily.
The huge strong mountains skipped then
like unto lusty Rams,
The little hills strangely did leap
like to yong wanton lambs.

What ail'd thee thou unruly Sea,
that thou thus fledst for fear?
Thou Jordan, what sawest thou that back
thy waters driven were?
You huge strong mountains, why skipt ye
like unto lusty Rams?
You little hills, why did you leap
like to young wanton lambs?

Before the presence of the Lord,
tremble thou earth and quake,
At the presence of Jacobs God
be thou moved and shake.
Who from the hard and stony rock
did pools of waters bring,
And by his pow'r did turn the flint
into a water spring.

✦ ✦ ✦

A metrical version of Psalm 114.

MLA

White, John. “Psalm 114.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/white_john/104/.

Chicago

White, John. “Psalm 114.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/white_john/104/.

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