Psalm LXVIII.
1
Let God arise, and let his foes
Be scattered out of sight:
And every one that hates the Lord,
Betake themselves to flight.
2
As wax is melted by the fire,
Or smoke dispers'd abroad:
So let the wicked perish all
Before the face of God.
3
But let the righteous men be glad,
And mightily rejoyce:
Sing praises to the Lord our God,
Sing praise with heart and voice.
4
Before his presence come with joy,
Extol his mighty fame:
Who rides upon the heavens high,
Jehovah is his name.
5
The father of the fatherless,
And judge of widows case;
Our God is he, who dwels above,
In his most holy place.
6
He founder is of families,
He sets the prisoner free:
But punishes rebellious men
With want and scarcity.
7
When thou didst march before thy fled
Into the wilderness:
And lead them forth into the land
Which they were to possess.
8
The earth did shake, the heavens dropt,
Yea Sinai quak'd for fear:
Because the God, the mighty God
Of Israel was there.
9
Then thou, O God, didst send a rain,
That flow'd most plentuously,
Refreshing thine inheritance,
When it was parch'd and dry.
10
That in the barren wilderness
Thy people might abide:
For of thy goodness thou, O Lord,
Did'st for the poor provide.
11
God gave the word, and multitudes
Did sing our victories:
Great kings of armies fled from us,
And Women shar'd the prize.
12
Though for a time we were despis'd,
And in the rubbish lay:
No dove with gold and silver wings,
Could shine more bright and gay.
13
When the Almighty scattered kings,
So glorious then we were;
The snow on top of Salmon hill,
Did not more white appear.
14
The hill of God to Bashan hill
May be compared well:
Boast not ye mountains; for the Lord
Will here for ever dwell.
15
Here twice ten thousand angels stand,
Yea more than we can count:
To guard the holy throne of God,
As once on Sinai mount.
16
Triumphing o'er thy captive foes,
O Christ, thou didst ascend:
And hast for men received gifts,
Yea for rebellious men.
17
That God the Lord might dwell in them;
O bless his name, and say,
Blest be the Lord, who loadeth us
With mercies every day.
18
He is our Saviour and our God;
His name we will advance,
Who only from the gates of death,
Can send deliverance.
19
But God shall wound the head of them,
That are his stubborn foes:
The hairy scalp of every one
That on in trespass goes.
20
My people I will bring, said he,
From Bashan once again:
And lead them as in times of old,
I led them through the main.
21
That thou maist dip thy foot in gore,
Of such as thee withstood:
And that thy dogs, that follow thee,
May lick their very blood.
22
Thy goings in thy holy place,
Thy people, Lord, have seen:
Thy triumphs, O my God and king,
How glorious they have been.
23
The singers first, the players next
On instruments took place:
The damsels with their timbrels too,
Did this procession grace.
24
Then all the congregation join'd
To bless the Lord most high,
That from the stock of Jacob came,
Or his posterity.
25
Judah and little Benjamin,
With all their heads were there
Of Zebulun and Naptali,
The princes all appear.
26
Confirm, O God, thou God of power,
The wonders thou hast wrought:
That presents by the greatest kings,
May to thy house be brought.
27
Rebuke the spearmen, great and small;
And put them all to flight,
Till they submit, and tribute bring,
Who did in war delight.
28
To make their peace great princes then
Shall come from Egypts land:
And Ethiopia to our God,
Shall quickly stretch her hand.
29
Sing to our God, ye kingdoms all;
Before the Lord rejoyce:
Who rides upon the heavens high,
And thunders with his voice.
30
Ascribe all power to him alone,
Who doth in heaven dwell:
That excellent and glorious king,
That rules in Israel.
31
The majesty of Jacob's God,
His temple doth proclaim:
'Tis he that gives his people strength;
O blessed be his name.
