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2 My tongue, by inspiration taught,
shall parables unfold,
Dark oracles, but understood,
and own'd for truths of old:
3 Which we from sacred registers
of ancient times have known,
And our forefathers' pious care
to us has handed down.

4 We will not hide them from our sons;
our offspring shall be taught

The praises of the Lord, whose strength has works of wonder wrought. 5 For Jacob he this law ordain'd, this league with Israel made; With charge to be from age to age, from race to race, convey'd. 6 That generations yet to come should to their unborn heirs Religiously transmit the same, and they again to theirs.

7 To teach them that in God alone
their hope securely stands;

That they should ne'er his works forget,
but keep his just commands.

8 Lest, like their fathers, they might prove
a stiff rebellious race,
False-hearted, fickle to their God,
unsteadfast in his grace.

9 Such were revolting Ephraim's sons,
who, though to warfare bred,

And skilful archers, arm'd with bows,
from field ignobly fled.

10, 11 They falsified their league with God,
his orders disobey'd,

Forgot his works and miracles

before their eyes display'd.

12 Nor wonders, which their fathers saw,
did they in mind retain,
Prodigious things in Egypt done,

and Zoan's fertile plain.

13 He cut the sea to let them pass, restrain'd the pressing flood;

While pil'd on heaps, on either side the solid waters stood.

14 A wondrous pillar led them on,
compos'd of shade and light;

A shelt'ring cloud it prov'd by day,
a leading fire by night.

15 When drought oppress'd them, where no stream

the wilderness supply'd,

He cleft the rock, whose flinty breast

dissolv'd into a tide.

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;

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64 In fight the sacrificer fell, the priest a victim bled;

And widows who their death should mourn, themselves of grief were dead.

65 Then, as a giant rous'd from sleep, whom wine had throughly warm'd, Shouts out aloud, the Lord awak'd, and his proud foe alarm'd.

66 He smote their host, that from the field
a scatter'd remnant came,

With wounds imprinted on their backs
of everlasting shame.

67 With conquest crown'd, he Joseph's tents
and Ephraim's tribe forsook;
68 But Judah chose, and Sion's mount
for his lov'd dwelling took.

69 His temple he erected there,

with spires exalted high;

While deep, and fix'd, as those of earth, the strong foundations lie.

70 His faithful servant David too

he for his choice did own,

And from the sheepfolds him advanc'd
to set on Judah's throne.

71 From tending on the teeming ewes,
he brought him forth to feed
His own inheritance, the tribes
of Israel's chosen seed.
72 Exalted thus, the monarch prov'd
a faithful shepherd still
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1

He fed them with an upright heart, and guided them with skill.

PSALM LXXIX.

Bhave thy possession seiz'd!

EHOLD, O God, how heathen hosts

Thy sacred house they have defil'd,

thy holy city raz'd!

2 The mangled bodies of thy saints

abroad unbury'd lay;

Their flesh expos'd to savage beasts,

and rav'nous birds of prey.

3 Quite through Jerus'lem was their blood like common water shed;

And none were left alive to pay

last duties to the dead.

4 The neighb'ring lands our small remains with loud reproaches wound;

And we a laughing-stock are made to all the nations round.

5 How long wilt thou be angry, Lord? must we for ever mourn ?

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