Psalm CXXVI. In convertendo Dominus.
I
When God a Miracle for Sion wrought,
And home Her exil'd Captives brought,
(Exiles, whose long Captivity
Made them forget they e're were free,
And almost wish, but as they were to be)
Th' Almighty did the Work so fast,
We thought it but a pleasant dream,
Yet wisht that dream might ever last,
It did so pleasant to us seem;
A Dream, which though we did not homewards go,
Made us believe we did, and hope 'twas so.
II
But when Fruition had Our hopes o'recome,
And we indeed awak'd at home,
A Dream Our sufferings then seem'd more,
Than Our deliverance did before,
A Dream we thought what we in bondage bore;
And cheer'd at Our arrivall there,
Like men rous'd by some suddain fright,
Who in suspence 'twixt joy, and fear,
Wake and speak of it, when 'tis light,
We whom Our feares struck dumb His praises spoke,
Who first Our chains, and then Our silence broke.
III
The very heathen, as We past along,
Joyn'd with us in Our cheerful song,
“The Lord has done great things, they sai'd,
“Great things for us, we answer made
The Lord has done great things, whereof we're glad!
Like us may He the Remnant bring,
Bring back the whole Captivity,
And since there's Water in the Spring,
O, may not long the streames be dry!
But, Lord, like Rivers in the parched South,
Make these o'erflow, as Thou suppli'st their drougth!
IV
He, who his future hopes in grief do's sow,
And makes them with his tears to grow,
With joy shall see a fruitfull spring,
With joy His harvest home shall bring,
And all his sheaves with showting carry in:
As when the Carefull Husbandman,
His seed into the ground has thrown,
Rejoyces at a soaking rain,
To water that, which he has sown,
Plenty distills from Heav'n with every drop,
And a moyst Seed-Time makes the fairest crop.
