16 Streams from the solid rock he brought, which down in rivers fell,

That, trav'lling with their camp, each day renew'd the miracle.

17 Yet there they sinn'd against him more, provoking the Most High,

In that same desert where he did their fainting souls supply.

18 They first incens'd him in their hearts,
that did his power distrust,

And long'd for meat, not urged by want,
but to indulge their lust.

19 Then utter'd their blaspheming doubts;
"Can God," say they, "prepare
"A table in the wilderness,

"set out with various fare?
20" He smote the flinty rock, 'tis true,
"and gushing streams ensued;
"But can he corn and flesh provide
"for such a multitude?"

21 The Lord with indignation heard:
from heaven avenging flame
On Jacob fell, consuming wrath
on thankless Israel came:

22 Because their unbelieving hearts

in God would not confide,

Nor trust his care, who had from heaven their wants so oft supply'd;

23 Though he had made his clouds discharge provisions down in showers;

And when earth fail'd, reliev'd their needs from his celestial stores;

24 Though tasteful manna was rain'd down, their hunger to relieve;

Though from the stores of heaven they did sustaining corn receive.

25 Thus man with angels' sacred food, ungrateful man was fed;

Not sparingly, for still they found

a plenteous table spread.

26 From heaven he made an east wind blow, then did the south command

27 To rain down flesh like dust, and fowls like sea's unnumber'd sand.

28 Within their trenches he let fall

the luscious easy prey;

And all around their spreading camp

the ready booty lay.

29 They fed, were fill'd; he gave them leave

their appetites to feast;

30, 31 Yet still their wanton lust crav'd on, nor with their hunger ceas'd.

But whilst in their luxurious mouths
they did their dainties chew,

The wrath of God smote down their chiefs,
and Israel's chosen slew.

PART II.

32 Yet still they sinn'd, nor would afford his miracles belief:

33 Therefore through fruitless travels he consum'd their lives in grief.

34 When some were slain, the rest return'd to God with early cry;

35 Own'd him the Rock of their defence, their Saviour, God most high.

36 But this was feign'd submission all; their heart their tongue bely'd;

37 Their heart was still perverse, nor would firm in his league abide.

38 Yet, full of mercy, he forgave,

nor did with death chastise;

But turn'd his kindled wrath aside,
or would not let it rise.

39 For he remember'd they were flesh,
that could not long remain;

A murm'ring wind, that's quickly past,
and ne'er returns again.

40 How oft did they provoke him there,
how oft his patience grieve,

In that same desert where he did
their fainting souls relieve!

41 They tempted him by turning back,
and wickedly repin'd,

When Israel's God refus'd to be
by their desires confin'd.

42 Nor call'd to mind the hand and day
that their redemption brought;

43 His signs in Egypt, wondrous works in Zoan's valley wrought.

44 He turn'd their rivers into blood, that man and beast forbore, And rather chose to die of thirst, than drink the putrid gore.

45 He sent devouring swarms of flies; hoarse frogs annoy'd their soil;

46 Locusts and caterpillars reap'd

the harvest of their toil.

47 Their vines with batt'ring hail were broke; with frost the fig-tree dies;

48 Lightning and hail made flocks and herds one general sacrifice.

49 He turn'd his anger loose, and set

no time for it to cease;

T

PSALM LXXV.

10 thee, O God, we render praise,
to thee, with thanks repair;
For, that thy name to us is nigh,

thy wondrous works declare.
2 In Israel when my throne is fix'd,
with me shall justice reign:
3 The land with discord shakes; but I
the sinking frame sustain.

4 Deluded wretches I advis'd their errors to redress;

And warn'd bold sinners, that they should their swelling pride suppress.

5 Bear not yourselves so high, as if
no power could yours restrain;
Submit your stubborn necks, and learn
to speak with less disdain :

6 For that promotion, which to gain
your vain ambition strives,
From neither east nor west, nor yet
from southern climes arrives.

7 For God the great disposer is,
and sov'reign Judge alone,

Who casts the proud to earth, and lifts the humble to a throne.

8 His hand holds forth a dreadful cup; with purple wine 'tis crown'd; The deadly mixture which his wrath deals out to nations round.

Of this his saints sometimes may taste; but wicked men shall squeeze

The bitter dregs, and be condemn'd

to drink the very lees.

9 His prophet, I, to all the world this message will relate;

The justice then of Jacob's God my song shall celebrate.

10 The wicked's pride I will reduce, their cruelty disarm;

1

Exalt the just, and seat him high above the reach of harm.

PSALM LXXVI.

N Judah the Almighty's known,
Almighty there by wonders shown,
his name in Jacob does excel:

2 His sanctu'ry in Salem stands;
The majesty that heaven commands,
in Sion condescends to dwell.

3 He brake the bow and arrows there,

The shield, and temper'd sword, and spear; there slain the mighty army lay:

4 Whence Sion's fame through earth is spread, Of greater glory, greater dread,

than hills where robbers lodge their prey. 5 Their valiant chiefs, who came for spoil, Themselves met there a shameful foil: securely down to sleep they lay; But wak'd no more, their stoutest band Ne'er lifted one resisting hand

'gainst his, that did their legions slay. 6 When Jacob's God began to frown, Both horse and charioteers, o'erthrown, together slept in endless night:

7 When thou, whom earth and heaven revere, Dost once with wrathful look appear,

what mortal power can stand thy sight?

8 Pronounc'd from heaven, earth heard its doom, Grew hush'd with fear, when thou didst come 9 the meek with justice to restore:

10 The wrath of man shall yield thee praise; Its last attempts but serve to raise

the triumphs of Almighty power. 11 Vow to the Lord, ye nations; bring Vow'd presents to the eternal King:

thus to his name due rev'rence pay, 12 Who proudest potentates can quell, To earthly kings more terrible, than to their trembling subjects they.

1

PSALM LXXVII.

O God I cry'd, who to my help
did graciously repair;

2 In trouble's dismal day I sought my God with humble prayer.

All night my fest'ring wound did run; no med'cine gave relief;

My soul no comfort would admit; my soul indulg'd her grief.

3 I thought on God, and favours past; but that increas'd my pain:

I found my spirit more oppress'd, the more I did complain.

4 Through every watch of tedious night
thou keep'st my eyes awake:

My grief is swell'd to that excess,
I sigh, but cannot speak.

5 I call'd to mind the days of old,

with signal mercy crown'd;

Those famous years of ancient times,

for miracles renown'd.

6 By night I recollect my songs, on former triumphs made;

Then search, consult, and ask my heart, where's now that wondrous aid?

7 Has God for ever cast us off?

withdrawn his favours quite ?

8 Are both his mercy and his truth retir'd to endless night?

9 Can his long practis'd love forget its wonted aids to bring?

Has he in wrath shut up and seal'd his mercy's healing spring?

10 I said, my weakness hints these fears; but I'll my fears disband;

I'll yet remember the Most High, and years of his right hand.

11 I'll call to mind his works of old,
the wonders of his might;

12 On them my heart shall meditate,
my tongue shall them recite.
13 Safe lodg'd from human search on high,
O God, thy counsels are!
Who is so great a God as ours?
who can with him compare?

14 Long since a God of wonders thee
thy rescued people found;

15 Long since hast thou thy chosen seed with strong deliv'rance crown'd.

16 When thee, O God, the waters saw, the frighted billows shrunk ;

The troubled depths themselves for fear beneath their channels sunk.

17 The clouds pour'd down, while rending skies did with their noise conspire;

Thy arrows all abroad were sent, wing'd with avenging fire.

18 Heaven with thy thunder's voice was torn, whilst all the lower world

With lightnings blazed; earth shook, and seem'd from her foundations hurl'd.

19 Through rolling streams thou find'st thy way, thy paths in waters lie;

Thy wondrous passage, where no sight

thy footsteps can descry.

20 Thou ledd'st thy people like a flock, safe through the desert land,

By Moses, their meek skilful guide, and Aaron's sacred hand.