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

Heare, O my people, and encline
Your eare unto my Lawes divine.
I will dark Parables unfold,
Which we have heard from fathers told.
We will not from succession hide
His works in praises magnifi'd:
Who gave a Law to Israel,
Which Parents must to Children tell.

That generations yet unborne
Might know their duty to performe?

142

That they their hope in God may set;
And not His workes, or Law forget:
Nor like their fathers, rebells prove,
With hearts unstedfast in His love:
Like those revolters Ephraim bred,
Who armed from the battell fled.

They Gods command, and Pact refus'd;
His works forgate, and pow'r abus'd:
When Egypts land, and Zoans field
Such marvailes to their fight did yield.
For then divided He the deep,
The floods contracting to an heap:
By day the Cloud their guide became;
At night He led them with a Flame.

He Rocks in barren desarts clave,
Which drink like swelling rivers gave:
He caus'd full streams from drought to grow
And waters made like torrents flow
Yet they, by sinning, Him forsook,
And in the desart did provoke.
They tempted God by asking meat;
Which they for lust, not hunger, eat.

Yea thus against their God they spake:
Can He in desarts diet make?
The Rock He did in streames divide;
But can He bread, or flesh provide?

143

When God heard this, His just mov'd ire
'Gainst Iacob kindled like a fire:
Because their God they faithles griev'd,
And His salvation not believ'd.

Though his command the clouds had try'd
The doores of heaven open'd wide:
He rain'd downe Manna for their meat,
And gave them corne from heav'n to eat.
Thus man with Angels food was fed:
For to the full He gave them bread.
He caus'd the Eastern wind to blow,
And made the South His plenty throw.

He flesh, as dust, upon them rain'd;
The fowles like heaps of Sand remain'd.
They 'midst their Camp with food were cloy'd,
And all they could desire, enjoy'd
But whil'st Their mouth the meat in took,
God's wrath their best, & choicest strook.
For all this, Israel sinned still,
His wonders slight, neglect His will.

Second Part.

Therefore their daies they vainely spend,
And all their yeares in trouble end.
Yet when He slew them, then they sought,
And God to their remembrance brought:
They turn'd, and from their sin retir'd,
And early after God enquir'd.

144

Then God They for their Rock esteem'd
Remembring He had them redeem'd.

Yet with their flatt'ring mouth they ly'd
Their heart His Covenant deny'd:
Though full of pitty He forgave,
Restrain'd His wrath, and Them did save,
For He remembred, They were fraile,
Whose lusts above His Laws prevaile:
As passing winds, so light and vaine,
Which breathing out, nere come again.

Oft did they grieve Him, oft rebell;
Tempting the God of Israel.
They thought not on His pow'rfull arm
Which kept them safe from hostile harm
How He His signes in Egypt wrought,
His wonders over Zoan brought:
And turn'd their rivers into blood;
They could not drink the crimsin flood.

He sent strange flies which them annoy
And frogs, their plenty to destroy:
Their fruits the Caterpillars eat,
And Locusts reap'd the ploughman's sweat
With haile their swelling vines were lost,
Their Sycamores destroy'd with frost.
Their herds by tempest came to nought
Their flocks the furious thunder smote.

145

His fiercest wreath on them was spent;
Bad Angels were among them sent:
Their soules not spared were from death,
Disease and plagues depriv'd their breath.
The first borne He through Egypt slew,
The chief which Ham, or Nilus knew.
But He His people led like sheep,
And did His flock in desarts keep.

Third Part.

He brought them safe, and free from fear;
When their pursuers drowned were.
And to His Sanctuary led,
The Mount His hand had purchased.
The Heathen He before them drave,
Their land by line to Iacob gave;
And made their tribes in tents to dwell:
Who tempting God, againe rebell.

They like their fathers backward slide;
As bowes deceitfull, turn'd aside.
High places Him provoke, and prove;
His jealousie their Idols move.
When God heard this, He waxed wroth,
And Israel did greatly loath:
His Tabernacle He forsook,
And no delight in Shiloh took.

Their strength He gave to captive bands;
His Glory to the Heathens hands:

146

He left His people to the sword;
His kindled wrath His Lot devour'd.
Their young men were consum'd by fire;
Their maids in marriage none require;
Their Priests were unto slaughter sent;
Nor did their widowes them lament.

Then did the Lord from sleep awake,
From wine as Giants spirit take:
Upon His flying foes He came,
And put them to perpetuall shame.
He Ioseph's Tent did then refuse,
Nor would the Tribe of Ephraim chuse.
But Iudahs Tribe He did elect,
Mount Sion, which His thoughts affect.

His Sanctuary high He plac't,
Like earth, which stands for ever fast.
His choyce did then on David looke,
And from amongst the Sheepfolds took.
From following Ewes, he made him feed
His chosen People, Iacob's seed:
Whom with a perfect heart he fed,
And by his skilfull conduct led.

University of Virginia Library

Psal. LXXVIII.

[First Part]

Second Part.

Third Part.