Maschil of Asaph. 8,6,8,6 ^1Attend, my people, to my law; thereto give thou an ear; The words that from my mouth proceed attentively do hear. ^2My mouth shall speak a parable, and sayings dark of old; ^3The same which we have heard and known, and us our fathers told. ^4We also will them not conceal from their posterity; Them to the generation to come declare will we: The praises of the Lord our God, and his almighty strength, The wondrous works that he hath done, we will shew forth at length. ^5His testimony and his law in Isr'el he did place, And charg'd our fathers it to show to their succeeding race; ^6That so the race which was to come might well them learn and know; And sons unborn, who should arise, might to their sons them show: ^7That they might set their hope in God, and suffer not to fall His mighty works out of their mind, but keep his precepts all: ^8And might not, like their fathers, be a stiff rebellious race; A race not right in heart; with God whose sp'rit not stedfast was. ^9The sons of Ephraim, who nor bows nor other arms did lack, When as the day of battle was, they faintly turned back. ^10They brake God's cov'nant, and refus'd in his commands to go; ^11His works and wonders they forgot, which he to them did show. ^12Things marvellous he brought to pass; their fathers them beheld Within the land of Egypt done, yea, ev'n in Zoan's field. ^13By him divided was the sea, he caus'd them through to pass; And made the waters so to stand, as like an heap it was. ^14With cloud by day, with light of fire all night, he did them guide. ^15In desert rocks he clave, and drink, as from great depths, supply'd. ^16He from the rock brought streams, like floods made waters to run down. ^17Yet sinning more, in desert they provok'd the Highest One. ^18For in their heart they tempted God, and, speaking with mistrust, They greedily did meat require to satisfy their lust. ^19Against the Lord himself they spake, and, murmuring, said thus, A table in the wilderness can God prepare for us? ^20Behold, he smote the rock, and thence came streams and waters great; But can he give his people bread? and send them flesh to eat? ^21The Lord did hear, and waxed wroth; so kindled was a flame 'Gainst Jacob, and gainst Israel up indignation came. ^22For they believ'd not God, nor trust in his salvation had; ^23Though clouds above he did command, and heav'n's doors open made, ^24And manna rain'd on them, and gave them corn of heav'n to eat. ^25Man angels' food did eat; to them he to the full sent meat. ^26And in the heaven he did cause an eastern wind to blow; And by his power he let out the southern wind to go. ^27Then flesh as thick as dust he made to rain down them among; And feather'd fowls, like as the sand which li'th the shore along. ^28At his command amidst their camp these show'rs of flesh down fell, All round about the tabernacles and tents where they did dwell. ^29So they did eat abundantly, and had of meat their fill; For he did give to them what was their own desire and will. ^30They from their lust had not estrang'd their heart and their desire; But while the meat was in their mouths, which they did so require, ^31God's wrath upon them came, and slew the fattest of them all; So that the choice of Israel, o'erthrown by death, did fall. ^32Yet, notwithstanding of all this, they sinned still the more; And though he had great wonders wrought, believ'd him not therefore: ^33Wherefore their days in vanity he did consume and waste; And by his wrath their wretched years away in trouble past. ^34But when he slew them, then they did to seek him shew desire; Yea, they return'd, and after God right early did enquire. ^35And that the Lord had been their Rock, they did remember then; Ev'n that the high almighty God had their Redeemer been. ^36Yet with their mouth they flatter'd him, and spake but feignedly; And they unto the God of truth with their false tongues did lie. ^37For though their words were good, their heart with him was not sincere; Unstedfast and perfidious they in his cov'nant were. ^38But, full of pity, he forgave their sin, them did not slay; Nor stirr'd up all his wrath, but oft his anger turn'd away. ^39For that they were but fading flesh to mind he did recall; A wind that passeth soon away, and not returns at all. ^40How often did they him provoke within the wilderness! And in the desert did him grieve with their rebelliousness! ^41Yea, turning back, they tempted God, and limits set upon Him, who in midst of Isr'el is the only Holy One. ^42They did not call to mind his pow'r, nor yet the day when he Deliver'd them out of the hand of their fierce enemy; ^43Nor how great signs in Egypt land he openly had wrought; What miracles in Zoan's field his hand to pass had brought. ^44How lakes and rivers ev'ry where he turned into blood; So that nor man nor beast could drink of standing lake or flood. ^45He brought among them swarms of flies, which did them sore annoy; And divers kinds of filthy frogs he sent them to destroy. ^46He to the caterpillar gave the fruits of all their soil; Their labours he deliver'd up unto the locusts' spoil. ^47Their vines with hail, their sycamores he with the frost did blast: ^48Their beasts to hail he gave; their flocks hot thunderbolts did waste. ^49Fierce burning wrath he on them cast, and indignation strong, And troubles sore, by sending forth ill angels them among. ^50He to his wrath made way; their soul from death he did not save; But over to the pestilence the lives of them he gave. ^51In Egypt land the first-born all he smote down ev'ry where; Among the tents of Ham, ev'n these chief of their strength that were. ^52But his own people, like to sheep, thence to go forth he made; And he, amidst the wilderness, them, as a flock, did lead. ^53And he them safely on did lead, so that they did not fear; Whereas their en'mies by the sea quite overwhelmed were. ^54To borders of his sanctuary the Lord his people led, Ev'n to the mount which his right hand for them had purchased. ^55The nations of Canaan, by his almighty hand, Before their face he did expel out of their native land; Which for inheritance to them by line he did divide, And made the tribes of Israel within their tents abide. ^56Yet God most high they did provoke, and tempted ever still; And to observe his testimonies did not incline their will: ^57But, like their fathers, turned back, and dealt unfaithfully: Aside they turned, like a bow that shoots deceitfully. ^58For they to anger did provoke him with their places high; And with their graven images mov'd him to jealousy. ^59When God heard this, he waxed wroth, and much loath'd Isr'el then: ^60So Shiloh's tent he left, the tent which he had plac'd with men. ^61And he his strength delivered into captivity; He left his glory in the hand of his proud enemy. ^62His people also he gave o'er unto the sword's fierce rage: So sore his wrath inflamed was against his heritage. ^63The fire consum'd their choice young men; their maids no marriage had; ^64And when their priests fell by the sword, their wives no mourning made. ^65But then the Lord arose, as one that doth from sleep awake; And like a giant that, by wine refresh'd, a shout doth make: ^66Upon his en'mies' hinder parts he made his stroke to fall; And so upon them he did put a shame perpetual. ^67Moreover, he the tabernacle of Joseph did refuse; The mighty tribe of Ephraim he would in no wise chuse: ^68But he did chuse Jehudah's tribe to be the rest above; And of mount Sion he made choice, which he so much did love. ^69And he his sanctuary built like to a palace high, Like to the earth which he did found to perpetuity. ^70Of David, that his servant was, he also choice did make, And even from the folds of sheep was pleased him to take: ^71From waiting on the ewes with young, he brought him forth to feed Israel, his inheritance, his people, Jacob's seed. ^72So after the integrity he of his heart them fed; And by the good skill of his hands them wisely governed. |