Psalm 81 (Exultate Deo)

All gladdnes, gladdest hartes can hold,
In meriest notes that mirth can yield,
Lett joyfull songes to god unfold,
To Jacobs god our sword and shield.
Muster hither musicks joyes,
Lute, and lyre, and tabretts noise:
Lett noe instrument be wanting,
Chasing grief, and pleasure planting.

When ev'ry month beginning takes,
When fixed tymes bring sacred daies;
When any feast his people makes;
Lett trumpetts tunes report his praise.
This to us a law doth stand,
Pointed thus by Gods owne hand;
Of his league a signe ordained,
When his plagues had Egipt pained.

There heard I, erst unheard by me,
The voice of God, who thus did say:
Thy shoulder I from burthen free,
Free sett thy hand from baked clay.
Vexed, thou my aide did'st crave;
Thunder-hid I answer gave:
Till the streames where strife did move thee,
Still I did with triall prove thee.

I bade thee then attentive be,
And told thee thus: O Israeli,
This is my covenant that with thee
No false, nor forrein god shall dwell.
I am God, thy god, that wrought
That thou wert from Egipt brought:
Open me thy mouth, to feede thee
I will care, nought els shall neede thee.

But ah, my people scorn'd my voice,
And Israeli rebelled still:
So then I left them to the choise
Of fro ward way, and wayward will.
Why alas! why had not they
Heard my voice, and held my way?
Quickly I their foes had humbled,
All their haters headlong tumbled.

Subdu'd by me who them annoid,
Had serv'd them now in base estate:
And of my graunt they had enjoy'd
A lease of blisse with endlesse date.
Flower of the finest wheate
Had been now their plenteous meate:
Honey them from rocks distilled
Filled had, yea over filled.