Psalm CVI.
1
Praise ye the Lord, for he is good,
His mercies endless are.
Who can relate his mighty acts,
And all his praise declare?
2
Blessed are they that keep his laws,
And never thence decline:
Lord, number me among thy flock,
And visit me as thine.
3
That I may see the happiness
Of those that are thy choice:
And with thine own inheritance,
May glory and rejoyce.
4
Our fathers, Lord, have deeply sinn'd,
And we the same have done:
We have committed wickedness,
And in their steps have gone.
5
Thy mighty works in Egypt done,
They did not bear in mind:
Nor think how gracious thou had'st been,
How merciful and kind.
6
But when to the red sea they came,
They did thine anger move:
And yet the Lord delivered them
Of his meer grace and love.
7
By his rebuke he dri'd the sea,
His power to express:
And led them safely through the deep,
As through the wilderness.
8
He sav'd them from their enemies,
And did their lives redeem:
But every man that hated them
Was cover'd in the stream.
9
Then they believ'd his words a while,
And gladly sung his praise:
But soon forgot his works again,
Nor did observe his ways.
10
But lusted in the wilderness,
And tempted God most high:
Who gave them what they did request,
But plagu'd them presently.
11
They envied Moses in the camp,
And holy Aaron too,
For which the earth did ope her mouth,
And down they quick did go.
12
Dathan, Abiram, and the rest
Of that ungodly train:
And others of their company
By fire from heaven were slain.
13
At Horeb too a molten calf,
They made and worshipped:
As if their God were like an ox,
That on the grass is fed.
14
Thus God their Saviour they forgot,
Who had his wonders shown
In Egypt; and at the red sea
His dreadful works had done.
15
Therefore in wrath he did resolve,
He every man would slay:
If Moses had not stopt the breach,
And turn'd his wrath away.
16
Yea they despis'd the pleasant land,
Nor did believe his word:
But murmured within their tents,
And disobey'd the Lord.
17
Who swore that in the wilderness,
His hand should root them out:
And scatter their posterity
In all the land about.
18
Baal Peor they did worship too,
And dead mens offerings eat:
Until the plague upon them came,
His anger was so great.
19
Then Phineas rose, and vengeance took
And staid the plague so sore:
Which counted was for righteousness
To him for evermore.
20
They vex'd him too at Meribah,
That Moses worse did fare,
Provoking him to speak amiss,
Before he was aware.
21
Nor, as the Lord commanded them,
Did they the nations slay:
But with the heathens mingled were,
And learn'd their wicked way.
22
They worshipped their idol gods,
Which soon a snare became:
Yea sacrific'd their children dear
To devils in the flame.
23
And shed the blood of innocents,
Their own poor harmless brood,
Whom they to Canaan's idols flew,
And stain'd the land with blood.
24
Thus with their works they were defil'd
By whoring from the Lord:
For which his wrath was kindled so,
That he his flock abhorr'd.
25
And gave them up into the hands
Of heathens merciless,
Who cruelly enslaved them,
And sorely did oppress.
26
Yet many a time he saved them,
But they did still provoke,
And so for their iniquities
Were brought into the yoak.
27
Yet in distress he heard their cry,
And of his grace and love:
He thought upon his covenant,
And did his hand remove.
28
Yea turned so the hearts of those
That had them captives led,
That by their very enemies
Their case was pitied.
29
Now save us, Lord, and bring us back,
That we our tongues may frame
To sing and triumph in thy praise,
And bless thy holy name.
30
Blest be the God of Israel,
To which with one accord,
Let all the people say amen,
Amen, praise ye the Lord.
