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

O praise and thank our gratious God,
Whose mercy knowes no period.
Who can His mighty acts declare?
Or shew how due His praises are?
They blessed are who judg aright,
And alwayes in the Truth delight.
Lord think on me with Thine Elect;
Let Thy salvation me protect.

Me to Thy Chosen's joyes aduance,
The bliss of Thine inheritance.
Our sins with sorrow we confess,
Who, like our Fathers, still transgress.
Thy works in Egypt they forgot,
Thy mercies there remembred not:
But at the Sea did Him provoke,
Who yet their safety not forsook.

The Red Sea he rebuk'd, and dry'd,
Whose waters wall'd them on each side.
And through its depths uncovered,
As safe, as through the desart, led:

202

Sav'd them from foes that did pursue;
All which the waters overthrew.
Then they beleev'd, and praises gave;
Though soon forgat, who them did save.

They lusted in the wildernes,
And God by their temptations press;
Who was to their request attent;
Into their soules though leannes sent.
They Moses in the Camp envy'd,
And Aaron's office vilify'd.
For which earth open'd to devour
Abiram's Troops, and Dathan's pow'r.

Then kindled was a furious fire,
Which burnt up those that did conspire.
Their hands a Calfe in Horeb made;
And to the Molten Image pray'd.
His glory thus who them releast
Was now converted to a beast.
And Egypts wonders, the Red Sea,
Or Land of Ham, forgotten be.

Then God, He would destroy them, said
Till Moses intercession made:
Who in the deadly breach did stand,
To turn away His vengfull hand.
His promis'd Land they now despise,
And murmurs in their tents arise:

203

That in the Desart He decreed,
To scatter them, and all their seed.

Second Part.

To Baal Peor joyn'd, they fed
On sacrifices to the dead.
Still their inventions Him provoke;
For which the Plague upon them broke.
Then Phinebas aveng'd th' offence,
And staid the mortall pestilence:
Which all successions held a seale
Of righteousnes, and holy zeale.

Then at the waters where they strove,
They did againe His anger move:
Where it so ill with Moses went,
He suffer'd in their punishment.
Because his spirit, meek and mild,
Provoked was, whilst they revil'd:
And discontented for their sake,
Some unadvised language spake.

The sinfull Nations of the Land
They not destroy'd at Gods command:
But learn'd their rites, with heathens mixt;
Ensnar'd, while on their Idols fixt.
As gifts to Divels offered,
Their Sonnes, and daughters blood they shed:
Whose guiltless lives to Idols slaine
Did all the Land of Canaan staine.

204

Thus they defil'd a whoring went,
In impious works themselves invent.
Therefore the Lords enkindled rage
Abhorred His own heritage.
He gave Them up to Heathen pow'rs;
Their haters made Their conquerours:
Opprest they were, by foes subdu'd;
Yet sav'd, as oft their sins renew'd.

But hearing their afflicted Cry,
He pitty'd their calamity.
He most compassionate, and kind,
His Covenant recall'd to mind,
And in his mercy did repent
The sharpnes of their punishment.
He made ev'n those with pity look,
Who Them before had captives took.

Save us, O Lord our God! protect,
And from the Heathen us collect:
To thank thy Name through all our daies
And triumph in Thy mercies praise.
O let the God of Israel
Be blest, whose benefits excell.
To Him be praises endless pay'd:
And let Amen by all be say'd.

University of Virginia Library

Psal. CVI.

[First Part]

Second Part.