The Psalmes of David, from the New Translation of the Bible Turned into Meter ::

O thank the goodnes of our God,
Whose mercy knowes no period.
Let Israel confess, His hands
Have gather'd them from forraigne lands:
From North, and South, & East, and West,
Where they no City had to rest:
But in the wildernes disperst,
With hunger pin'd, and faint with thirst.

Then they their Cries to God address,
Who them deliver'd from distress.
He them directed in his way,
To find a City for their stay.
O then that men would praise the Lord,
Who such great goodness doth afford:
Recording both by tongue and pen
His wonders to the sons of men.

The longing soul He satiates still,
The hungry doth with goodness fill,
Who sit in darkness, and death's shade,
In iron and affliction lay'd.

206

Because 'gainst God they did rebell,
And from His words, and counsaile fell,
Therefore their heart by labours broke
Found none to ease them from their yoake.

Then they their cries to God address,
Who them deliver'd from distress:
He them from death and darknes brought,
And freedome from their bondage wrought,
O then that men would praise the Lord,
Who such great goodnes doth afford;
Recording both by tongue and pen
His wonders to the Sons of men.

For He the gates of brass hath broke,
The iron barres in sunder strook.
The foolish for their acted sin
Have by His hand afflicted bin.
So that their soul in sicknes cast,
Abhorring meat, could nothing tast.
Then they their cries to God address;
Who them deliver'd from distress.

His word He sent them, which reveal'd,
Their sorrowes, and dejections heal'd.
O then that men would praise the Lord,
Who such great mercies doth afford;
Recording both by tongue and pen
His wonders to the Sons of men.

207

And let their Songs of gladnes rise,
To pay their thankfull sacrifice.

Second Part.

They that in ships their trafick keep,
Behold Gods wonders in the deep.
For he commands the storme to blow,
Whose billowes them to heaven throw:
Then downe they fall, as if their graves
Were made beneath the gaping waves.
They stagger to and fro, and reele,
And like a drunkard rowles the keele.

Then they their cries to God address,
Who them delivers from distress:
He calmes the storme, whose rage gives ore;
And lands them on the wished shore.
O then that men would praise the Lord,
Who such great goodnes doth afford;
Recording both by tongue and pen
His wonders to the Sons of men.

In great assemblies bless his Name,
And 'mongst the Elders speak his fame:
Who rivers like a desart dryes;
Makes parched sands, where springs did rise.
He barren makes a fruitfull ground,
For sins which in the Land abound.
Then to a poole the desart brings,
And turns dry grounds to water springs.

208

There He the hungry soules hath fill'd,
That they may live, and Cities build:
To plant the vine, and sowe the field,
Which may hir fruits with plenty yield.
He multiplies, and gives them peace,
Their flocks not suff'ring to decrease.
Againe they few, when sinfull, grow;
His punishments then brought them low.

He mighty Princes puts to scorne,
Makes them like wanderers forlorne.
Yet setteth He the poor on high,
And spreads like flocks his family.
The righteous will rejoyce to see,
When envies mouth shall stopped be.
Who so is wise, will hence record
The loving kindnes of the Lord.

University of Virginia Library

Psal. CVII.

[First Part]

Second Part.