The Psalms of David in English Meter, Psalms · Psalm 78 – Psalm 85

The Psalms of David in English Meter · Psalms · Psalm 78 – Psalm 85

p. 152PSAL. LXXVIII.

ATtend, my people, to my Law, incline your hearkning eare

Unto the words which I shall speak, and ponder what you heare.

verse 2 My mouth shall speak a parable, and sayings dark of old.

verse 3 Which we have heard and known, and which our fathers have us told.

verse 4 We will not hide them from their seed, yea those unborne that be,

Gods praises, and almighty strength, and wonders, teach will we.

verse 5 To Jacob he a Testimony and Law to Israel gave,

Which by our fathers to their …eed he surely taught would have.

verse 6 That so the race which was to come, might well them learn and know;

That children yet unborne the same might to their children show.

verse 7 p. 153That they might set their hope in God, and suffer not to fall

His mighty works out of their mind, but keep his precepts all.

verse 8 And might not, like their fathers old▪ be disobedient found;

Whose heart not right, whose spirit with God not stedfast was, nor sound.

verse 9 The men of Ephraim being arm'd, and with them carrying bowes:

B…ck in the day of battell turn'd, and fled before their foes.

The second part.

verse 10 They did not that just covenant keep, which God to them did give;

And after his most perfect lawes they did refuse to live.

verse 11 But they forgat the mighty works which by him wrought had been:

Yea, they …orgat those wonders great, which Israels eies had seen.

verse 12 For he had done things marvellous in their fo…efathers sight:

In Egypts land, and Zoans field he shew'd his glorious might.

verse 13 The sea by him divided, gave a passage to them all;

And he did make the waters stand like to an heap or wall.

verse 14 He led them by a shady cloud by day, when it was light;

And with a shining light of … p. 154he led them in the night.

verse 15 And in the thirsty wildernesse the stony rockes he clave;

And as from the great swelling depth… thence drink to them he gave.

The third part.

verse 16 He by his might cleare streames … from the hard rock to flow;

And thence he caused waters great like rivers down to go.

verse 17 Yet did they adde more sin to sin, against him they transgresse;

And the most High they did provoke in the great wildernesse.

verse 18 For in their heart they tempted God, and speaking with mitrust;

They greedily did meat require to satisfie their lust.

verse 19 Against the Lord himself they spake, and said prophanely thus,

A table in the wildernesse can God prepare for us?

verse 20 Behold, he smote the rock, and thence came streams and waters great;

And can he give his people bread, and send them flesh to eat?

verse 21 The Lord heard this, & waxed wroth, so k…ed was a flame▪

In Jacobs house, and anger great up against Israel came.

verse 22 Because, beleeving not in God, no trust to him they gave;

p. 155As if his goodnesse and his power, them could not feed and save.

verse 23 Though he unto the clouds above had sent forth his command;

And he the doores of heaven high had opened with his hand.

verse 24 And though upon them plenteously he Manna downe did raine;

And though he gave unto them▪ corne of heav'n, them to sustaine.

verse 25 Then man upon this earth below the Angels food did eat;

Yea, of his bounty to the full downe to them sent he meat.

The fourth part.

verse 26 And in the heaven he did cause an East-wind forth to passe;

And by his all-commanding power brought in a South-wind was▪

verse 27 He raine… flesh on them as dust, and feathered fowles like sand:

verse 28 Amid their camp about their tents it fell by his command.

verse 29 Then did they eat, & were well fill'd, their owne desire he gave;

And they from that were not estrang'd, which their owne lust di… crave.

verse 30 But as the meat was in their mouths, his wrath upon them fell;

verse 31 And …lew the flower of all their youth, and choise of Israel.

p. 156verse 32 Yet fell they to their wonted sins, and still they did him grieve:

For all the wonders that he wrought, they would him not beleeve.

verse 33 Therefore their daies in vanity did he consume and wast;

And by his wrath their wretched yeare… away in troubles past.

verse 34 But ever when he plagued them, they fought him speedily;

Remembring that God was their strength and Saviour most hye.

verse 35 Yet with their mouths they flattered him, and spake but fainedl…:

verse 36 And they unto the God of truth with their false tongues did lye.

verse 37 For though their words were goo…, their heart▪ yet with him was not right;

And stedfast in his covenant they were not in his sight.

verse 38 Yet being of compassion full, their sins he did forgive:

When justice them might have destroi'd, he suffered them to live.

The fifth part.

Ye…, many a time his anger fierce away he turned hath;

And he (though they provoked him) stirr'd no… up all his wrath.

verse 39 For that they were but fading flesh in mind he did retaine;

A wind which passeth soon away, and cometh not againe.

p. 157verse 40 How often did they him provoke within the wildernesse:

And in the desart did him grieve with their rebelliousnesse?

verse 41 Yea, they turn'dback, and tempted God, and to the holy One

They did set limits, and would shew what could by him be done.

verse 42 Not thinking of his hand and power, not of the day when he

From their oppressing enemy did mightily them free.

verse 43 His signes in Egypt they forgat, though wrought before their sight;

And wonders great in Zoans field done by his dreadfull might.

verse 44 Remembring not that he had turn'd their rivers into bloud;

That so the thirsty could not fetch their drink at any floud.

verse 45 Nor how he sent them swarmes of flies, which did them sore anno…;

And fill'd their countries full of frogs▪ which did their land destroy.

verse 46 How to the Caterpiller he their lan…s increase did give;

To Locusts he their labours gave, whereon they thought to live.

verse 47 And in his wrath their fruitfull vin… he did destroy with haile;

And …e their pleasant Sicamores with frost did make to quaile.

p. 158verse 48 And he delivered to the haile their cattell in the field,

And to hot thunderbolts their flocks to be destroi'd and kill'd.

verse 49 On them the fiercenesse of his wrath he caused to descend:

Trouble and anger God on them by evill spirits did send.

The sixth part.

verse 50 He to his anger making way, spar'd not their soules from death;

But to the killing pestilence gave up their life and breath.

verse 51 And in the land of Egypt he the first-born all did smite;

And in the tents of Ham the chiefe of all their strength and might.

verse 52 But his own people, whom he lov'd, in safety he did keep;

And led them in the wildernesse, like to a flock of sheep.

verse 53 He led them safely by his power, they had no cause to feare:

But by the seas their cruell foes all overwhelmed were.

verse 54 He brought them out into the coasts of his owne holy land:

Ev'n to the Mount which he did get by his strong arme and hand.

verse 55 For them he cast the heathen out, and did their land divide;

And in their tents he set the Tribes of Israel to abide.

p. 159verse 56 Yet did they tempt the highest God, and him provoked they;

His testimonies they forsook, and did not them obey.

verse 57 But, like their fathers, turned back, and dealt unfaithfully:

Aside they turned, like a bow that shoots deceitfully.

verse 58 And they with altars him displeas'd, set up in places hie;

And with their graven images him mov'd to jealousie.

verse 59 When God of this great wickednes in heaven heard the cry,

He waxed wroth, and Israel then abhorred vehemently.

verse 60 Yea, then the Tabernacle he of Shiloh did forsake;

The tent and place where he to men his presence knowne did make.

verse 61 His strength into captivity then gave he to be led;

His glory to the enemies hand he then delivered.

The seventh part.

verse 62 He gave his people to the sword, and being angry then

verse 63 With his inheritance, the fire consum'd their strongest men.

verse 64 Their maidens then no marriage had, their Priests fell by the sword;

Their widowes lamentations to them did not afford.

p. 160verse 65 But then the Lord arose as one that did from sleep awake;

And like a Giant, that by wine refresh't, a shout doth make.

verse 66 His enemies in the hinder parts he smote both great and small;

And so upon them did he put a shame perpetuall.

verse 67 Moreover, he the Tabernacle of Joseph did refuse;

The fruitfull Tribe of Ephraim he was not pleas'd to chuse.

verse 68 But he the Tribe of Judah chose, and purpos'd there to dwell:

The Mount of Sion he did chuse, for it he loved well.

verse 69 And he his Sanctuary built, like to a palace hye;

And, like the earth, it stablished; to stand continually.

verse 70 And he his servant David chose, his flock to rule and keep;

Whom of his speciall grace he took, even from the folds of sheep.

verse 71 He followed then the Ews with yong, when God did him advance;

To feed his people Israel, and his inheritance.

verse 72 And so in soundnesse of his heart them faithfully he fed;

And he with skilfulnesse of hands them wisely governed.

p. 161PSAL. LXXIX.

THine heritage the Heathen take, and, Lord, thy house by them

Defiled is, and heaps they make of thy Jerusalem.

verse 2 The bodies of thy Saints they give unto the fowles for meat;

Their flesh, whose soules with thee doe live, to beasts they give to eat.

verse 3 Their bloud throughout Jerusalem, as water spilt they have;

And none there was that gave to them a buriall and a grave.

verse 4 To those that here are dwelling nye, thus a reproach are we;

And they derlde us scornfully, that round about us be.

verse 5 How long, Lord? shall continually thy wrath against us last?

And shall thy kindled jealousie like fire still burne and waste?

verse 6 On Heathen lands that know not thee, let thy wraths tempest fall;

Powr'd out on Kingdomes let it be, that on thee do not call.

verse 7 For they have got the upper hand, and Jacobs seed destroi'd;

His habitation and his land, they have left waste and void.

verse 8 Forget our old iniquity, prevent us, Lord, in haste;

With tender mercies graciously, for downe we low are cast.

p. 162The second part.

verse 9 O God our Saviour, we thee pray us now to help and save:

In mercy purge our sins away, that praise thy Name may have.

verse 10 Why shall the heathen men, when us so low cast downe they see,

Say to thy great dishonour thus, Their God, now where is he?

O let that God be knowne among the heathen in our sight;

Whiles thy Saints bloud shed forth by wrong, thou dost revenge by right.

verse 11 And let the prisoners sighes ascend before thy sight on hie:

Those in thy mighty power defend, that are condemn'd to die.

verse 12 And in their bosomes seven-fold paid let our neighbours be,

For that reproach wherewith most bold they have reproached thee.

verse 13 So we thy pasture sheep that are, thee praise for ever shall;

And we thy people shall declare thy praise to ages all.

PSAL. LXXX.

O Shepherd, by whose grace and might kept Israel is, and fed;

Thou, by whom Josephs house aright like to a flock is led.

verse 2 Thou that in mercy dost excell, to us thine eare incline;

p. 163Thou between Cherubs that dost dwell, upon us brightly shine.

verse 3 In Ephraim's and Manasseh's sight, O let thy strength appeare;

In Benjamins sight stirre up thy might, to save us, Lord, draw neere.

verse 4 Turne us again by thy great grace, convert us, Lord, to thee:

Shew us the brightnesse of thy face, and then full safe are we.

verse 5 Lord God of hosts, with heart and tongue, we daily pray to thee;

And with thy peoples praier how long, Lord, angry wilt thou be?

verse 6 Thou dost them seed with sorrowes deep, their bread with teares they eat;

And drink the teares that they do weep, in measure full and great.

verse 7 Thou hast us made a strife to those that here our neighbours be:

They laugh at us that are our fors, wh…n they our sorrowes see.

verse 8 O take us, Lord, unto thy grace, convert our minds to thee;

Shew forth to us thy joyfull face, and we full safe shall be.

The second part.

verse 9 A vine from Egypt brought thou hast by thy out-stretched hand;

And thou the heathen out didst cast, to plant it in their land.

verse 10 Before it thou a room didst make, p. 164where it might grow and stand;

Thou caused'st it deep root to take, and it did fill the land.

verse 11 And with the shadow of the same the mountaines covered were;

The spreading boughes that from ca… like Cedars did appeare.

verse 12 Why then dost thou thus waste he la… and downe her hedge dost cast?

That those who passe upon the way, this vine do pluck and waste?

verse 13 The Boat that cometh from the woo: doth waste it furiously;

The wild beast of the field for food devoures it greedily.

verse 14 O Lord of host… returne againe, we pray thee, unto thine:

From heav'n look downe, in love maintaine, and visit this thy vine.

verse 15 That vineyard see with favour now, which thy right hand did set;

The branch which for thy glory thou mad'st strong, do not forget.

verse 16 The burning fire doth it deface, thy vine is now cut downe;

Thy people perish, when thy face on them in wrath doth frowne.

verse 17 Upon the man of thy right hand, let thy hand still remaine;

Upon him whom thou strong to stand, didst for thy selfe maintaine.

verse 18 So will we not go back from thee, p. 165nor from thy worship fall:

… quicken us, then gladly we upon thy Name shall call.

verse 19 O Lord of hosts, through thy good grace, convert us unto thee;

…hold us with a pleasant face, and then full safe are we.

PSAL. LXXXI.

SIng unto God our strength & might, lift up aloud your voice;

To Jacobs God sing with delight, and make a joyfull noise.

verse 2 Unto you take a Psalme to sing, and sing ye chearfully;

The pleasant Harp and Timbrell bring, with the sweet Psaltery.

verse 3 And with the Trumpets lofty voice let gladnesse be exprest;

In the new Moon, a time of choice, and day of solemne feast.

verse 4 Because this for all Israel was by the most High decreed:

This Law from Jacobs God did passe, unto all Jacobs seed.

verse 5 In Joseph this ordained was, when be from Egypt free,

verse 6 From men of a strange tongue did pass, a tongue not knowne to me.

verse 7 I from his shoulders took (saith he) the burden clean away;

And from the furnace set him free, from burning brick of clay.

p. 166verse 8 In trouble thou to me didst cry, and I did set thee free;

And from the secret place on hie of thunder answered thee.

verse 9 At Meribah I proved thee, thy faith I there did try,

Where waters thou didst aske of me with doubt and grudgingly.

The second part.

verse 10 But yet my people now give eare, to thee I testifie:

O Israel, if thou wilt me heare, and serve obediently:

verse 11 Then know that surely I in thee will no strange God allow;

And no strange god shall worship't be; to such thou shalt not bow.

verse 12 For I the Lord thy God am he, who thee from Egypt led:

Thy mouth then open wide to me, and full thou shalt be fed.

verse 13 But though that I did Israel chuse my people for to be;

To heare my voice he did refuse, and he would none of me.

verse 14 Then did I give them up in wrath by their lust to be led;

And so in their owne counsells path they vainly wandered.

verse 15 O that my people would me heare, and carefully obey!

And O that Israel would me feare, and walk still in my way▪

p. 167verse 16 How soon would I confound their foes, and bring them down full low;

And turn my hand upon all those that would them overthrow?

verse 17 The haters of the Lord to him themselves down low should cast;

But my beloved peoples time still flourishing should last.

verse 18 I would have sed them with the crop of finest of the wheat;

And made the rock with hony drop, that they their fills should eat.

PSAL. LXXXII.

GOD in the congregation of mighty men doth stand;

With earthly gods the Highest One doth stand, and judge the land.

verse 2 To them he saith, How long will ye judge thus unrighteously?

Mens persons, though they wicked be, accepting partially.

verse 3 Defend the poore and fatherlesse, when they of wrongs complaine:

Do justice to the comfortlesse, the poore mans cause maintaine.

verse 4 The poore and needy man set free, when he doth sue for right:

Let them by you delivered be from the oppressors might.

verse 5 But they are blind, and will not see, in darknesse walk they do:

The earths foundations shaken be, p. 168and out of course they go.

verse 6 I said of you, who judges be, that gods I would you call:

I said to you, The children ye of the most High are all.

verse 7 Yet surely die like men ye shall, and so to judgement go;

As any mortall Prince doth fall, even ye shall perish so.

verse 8 Then, Lord, arise, and by thy might the earth to judgement call;

Because to thee, as Lord, of right belong the Nations all.

PSAL. LXXXIII.

O God, no longer silent stand, do not thy voice restraine:

Be still no more, let thine owne hand, Lord, thine owne cause maintaine.

verse 2 For now behold thine enemies do rise tumultuously:

Yea, they that hate thee do arise, and lift their heads on hye.

verse 3 Against thy chosen people they do crafty counsell take;

Their heads together do they lay, most cruell plots to make.

verse 4 Come, let us cut them off, they say, that they no Nation be:

Let Israels name be put away, when none can Israel see.

verse 5 In counsell they with one consent together joyned be:

p. 169They are with mischievous intent confederate against thee.

verse 6 There were the tents of Edomites, there Ismaels children were;

With them were joyn'd the Moabites, the Hagarens were there.

verse 7 Gebal and Ammon joyned be, with Amalek they conspire;

With them the Philistims agree, and those that dwell at Tyre.

verse 8 Ashur his force to theirs bath laid, in league with them is he;

That to Lots children he an aid, and arme of strength may be.

verse 9 But thou like Midian make them all, and such as Sisera was;

With his King Jabin, who did fall, where Kish…s brook doth passe.

verse 10 As those thou didst at Endor slay, slay these that thee withstand:

Make them like those whose bodies lay as dung upon the land.

The second part.

verse 11 And let their slaughtered Noble men, like Zeeb and Oreb fall:

As Zeba and Zalmunna then, now make their Princes all,

verse 11 Who proudly said, Into our hands let us Gods houses take;

Let us his houses through the land our owne possessions make.

p. 170verse 13 But, O my God, like wheeles them make that run, and do not stay:

As winds away the chaffe do take, so make them flie away.

verse 14 As fire doth consume a wood, and it to ashes turne;

And as the mountaines high that stood, the lightning flames do burne.

verse 15 So let thy tempest furiously them drive, and on them light;

And let thy storme sent from on hie, with terrour them affright.

verse 16 Cover, O Lord, and fill their face with their deserved shame;

That they may humbly begge thy grace, and seek thy glorious Name.

verse 17 Yet more, let them consounded be, and ve…t continually:

Yea, be they put to shame by thee, and perish fearfully.

verse 18 That men may know that only thee they should Jehovah call;

And thee alone on earth to be the Highest over all.

PSAL. LXXXIV.

HOw lovely is thy dwelling place, O Lord of hosts, to me!

The Tabernacles of thy grace, how pleasant, Lord, they be!

verse 2 My thirsty soule longs vehemently, yea faints thy courts to see;

My very heart and flesh do cry, O living God, for thee.

p. 171verse 3 The Sparrowes find a room to rest, and save themselves from wrong;

The Swallow makes her selfe a nest, wherein to lay her yong.

verse 4 Ev'n nigh thine altars is the place in which these birds may lie:

While me, my God and King, they chase, and force far thence to flie.

verse 5 O those that in thy house may dwell, right blest and happy be,

They ever thy great acts will tell, and still be praising thee.

verse 6 And likewise blessed men are they, whose stay and strength thou art;

Which to thy house do mind the way, and seek it with their heart.

verse 7 For though through vallies dry they go, thy grace is with them still;

Which, like a fountain, springeth so, that it their pits doth fill.

verse 8 Thus did they go from strength to strength, and all unwearied were;

And thus before the Lord at length in Zion all appeare.

verse 9 O Lord, thou God of armies, heare, now I to thee do pray;

O God of Jacob, give an eare to that which I shall say.

verse 10 Behold, O God our shield, with grace him that thus out is cast:

Look upon thine Anointeds face, and bring him back at last.

p. 172verse 11 Because within thy courts one day is better to abide;

Then in another place to stay a thousand daies beside.

verse 12 And in my Gods deare house I could more gladly keep a doore;

Then in the tents of sin I would dwell with all wealth and store.

verse 13 For God, a sun and shield that is, will grace and glory give;

And he no good will keep from his, that do uprightly live.

verse 14 O Lord of hosts, that man is blest, and happy still shall be,

Whose heart by faith doth ever rest, and firmly trust in thee.

PSAL. LXXXV.

UNto thy land, our Lord and King, thou hast done graciously:

For Jacob thou againe didst bring from his captivity.

verse 2 Thou to thy people didst forgive their great iniquities;

All sins wherein they once did live, thou cover'dst from thine eies.

verse 3 Thine anger so thou didst asswage, that all my wrath is gone;

And thou art turned from thy rage, with them to be at one.

verse 4 O God our health, do now convert thy people unto thee;

From us let all thy wrath depart, and angry cease to be.

p. 173verse 5 Why, shall thine anger never end, but still proceed on us?

And shall thy wrath it selfe extend upon all ages thus?

verse 6 Wilt thou not us to life restore, and quicken us, that we

Who are thy people evermore in thee may joyfull be?

verse 7 To us thy mercy, Lord, declare, and all our sins forgive;

And unto us, thy flock that are, thy free salvation give.

verse 8 Now will I hear what God will say, for he with peace shall blesse

His Saints, and flock, yet must not they returne to foolishnesse.

verse 9 Surely to such as do him feare is his salvation nye;

That glory may to us appeare, and dwell here constantly.

verse 10 For truth and mercy here shall meet, in one to take their place;

And peace with kisse shall justice greet, and here they shall embrace.

verse 11 Truth with a spring the earth shall blesse, and it with glory crowne;

And on us shining righteousnesse, from heaven shall look downe.

verse 12 Yea, God shall give us bounteously all that for us is good;

Our land with fruit shall us supply, and give us store of food.

p. 174verse 13 Before him righteousnesse shall go, which shall us rightly lead;

And in the way shall set us so, that we his steps shall tread.