A New Version of the Psalms of David :: :: University of Virginia Library

Thy People Thou did'st lead with Care,
And bade them this rich Soil command,
And of thy Goodness did'st prepare,
For the poor Tribes, this fruitful Land.

Part II.

God gave the Matter and the Song,
Which for our Vict'ry they should sing,
Who met us in a num'rous Throng,
And made thro' Heav'n our Triumph ring.

Princes, by whom great Hosts are led,
Shall fly, shall fly in Fight o'ercome;
Women shall with the Spoil be fed,
And share the Wealth, who stay at Home.

Tho', when base Labours you did bear,
Mid'st Egypt's Pots deform'd you lay,
Rich Beauty you, like Doves, shall wear,
That Gold and Silver Wings display.

140

When God, the God of boundless Might,
Did Kings in Canaan overthrow,
From dark before, it grew as bright,
And pure, as Salmon's whitest Snow.

God's Hill do's high as Bashan climb,
In Strength, as Bashan's Hill, excells:

What makes you leap, ye Hills sublime?
In Zion God for ever dwells.

His Chariots twice Ten Thousand are,
Angels, whose Numbers none can count;
He's present with his Myriads there,
As once on Sinai's holy Mount.

On high the Lord, in Triumph rose,
Captivity he Captive led;
Took Gifts for Men, e'en for his Foes,
That with them God might dwell their Head.

Bless'd be the Lord, who Favours new
To us most Gracious still bestows,
The God of our Salvation, who
Unwearied loving Kindness shows.

Part III.

To him, whom we our God alone
Acknowledge, we Deliv'rance owe;
From God, our Lord most high, we own
Of Death the various Issues flow.

But God in Anger shall confound
The Men, who his Commands oppose;
And deep his hairy Scalp shall wound,
Who obstinate in Evil grows.

141

Again, said God, from Bashan's King
In Mercy I'll my People Save;
Again the rescu'd Tribes I'll bring
From the deep Ocean's yielding Wave.

So such great Conquests Thou shalt gain
O'er those thy Foes in Numbers strong,
That Thou in Blood pour'd from the slain
May'st dip thy Foot, and Dogs their Tongue.

They thy Procession view'd, and saw
The Pomp, that did thy March attend,
When Thou, my God, did'st full of Awe,
To Zion's holy Place ascend.

The Quire of Singers led the Way,
Next tuneful Instruments were heard;
And Damsels, who on Timbrels play,
In the long Order bright appear'd.

Marching these Words they did express,
You, who from Israel's Fountain spring,
God in your Congregations bless,
And magnifie the Lord, your King.

Small Benjamin, thy Rulers high,
And Judah's Princes thither went;
And Zebulon and Napthali,
Your Chiefs, the Triumph did augment.

Part IV.

Thy Strength by God's Appointment came,
Be it to fix his Work his Care:

Drawn by thy Temple's spreading Fame
Kings shall their Off'rings thither bear.

142

Rebuke the Spearmen in the Field,
The People's Calves and Bulls of Might,
Till they with Silver Presents yield;
O blast them, who in War delight.

Egypt to God shall Worship pay,
And Cush shall soon Oblations bring;

O all ye Kingdoms sing and pray
To Jacob's God, O praises sing.

To him, who rides above the Sun
High in the Heav'ns, his blest Abode,
Stretch'd out 'ere Ancient Times begun,
And spreads his mighty Voice Abroad.

Ascribe, ye Tribes, to God most High
Strength, that all other Strength outvies.
On Israel, is his Majesty;
His glorious Pow'r is in the Skies.

O God, Thou greatly art renown'd
From Heav'n and Zion's holy Seat;
His People Jacob's God has crown'd
With mighty Pow'r, God's Praise repeat.