Psalm 106

Abraham Coles

3 Happy are they who judgment keep;
Who never from Thy law depart;
Who love the ways of righteousness
And serve the Lord with perfect heart.

4 Regard me with the favor, Lord,
Thou bear'st Thy people; visit me
5 With Thy salvation, that I may
The welfare of Thy chosen see!

6 But we have with our fathers sinned;
Have from Thy testimonies swerved;
Our covenant with Thee have broke;
And all we suffer have deserved.

7 Mindless of signs in Egypt wrought,
Rebellious words our fathers spake
8 At the Red Sea; He yet them saved,
By His great power for His Name's sake.

9 The Sea dried up at His rebuke:
He through its hidden depths them led —
That seemed a low and level plain,
Solid and firm beneath their tread.

10 When safe upon the further shore,
The waters, which for them were cleft,
11 Closed over the pursuing foe,
Not one of their whole member left.

12 Then they believed His words; they sang
13 His praise, but soon His works forgot —
Self-willed, impatient, they made haste,
And waited for His counsel not.

14 They lusted in the wilderness.
And tempted God — on having bent —
15 Displeased, He gave them their request,
But in their souls He leanness sent.

16 They Moses envied in the camp,
And Aaron, made high priest to be;
17 Earth oped — with Dathan swallowed were
Abiram and his company.

18 A fire was kindled, and consumed
Korah and all his wicked crew.
In spite of judgments Israel still
Remained rebellious and untrue.

19 They made a calf at Horeb; thus
20 They changed their Glory for, alas!
The molten likeness of an ox
That chews his cud and feeds on grass.

21 They God forgat, their Saviour, who
Had graciously, to set them free,
22 In Egypt done great things for them
And terrible by the Red Sea.

23 Therefore He said: "I'll them destroy!"
But nevertheless allowed to plead,
Moses His chosen — who in the breach
Before Him stood to intercede.

24 Yea, they despised the pleasant Land;
And they discredited His word;
25 They daily murmured in their tents.
And harkened not unto the Lord.

26 So with uplifted hand He sware
They should the Promised Land not see —
27 Their seed should 'mong the nations fall,
And in all lands should scattered be.

28 To Baal-Peor they them joined;
Things offered to dead idols ate;
29 By their nefarious deeds provoked,
A plague them slew in numbers great.

30 Then stood up Phinehas alone,
And executed judgment fell!
The plague was stayed — in this bold act
31 'T was ever held that he did well.

32 At Meribah they angered Him;
And Moses suffered for their sake,
33 Because, beyond endurance vexed,
He foolishly and rashly spake.

34 The peoples they did not destroy —
Unmindful of the Lord's commands —
35 But mixed with them, and learned their works,
36 And served their idols made with hands;

And these became a snare to them;
By horrible example led,
37 They sons and daughters sacrificed —
38 Their guiltless blood to demons shed.

39 Thus they the Land with blood defiled,
And played the harlot 'fore the Lord;
40 Therefore His wrath was kindled so
He His inheritance abhorred.

41 He to the nations gave them up,
Up to the tyranny of those
42 Who hated them — caused them to bow
Their stiff proud necks to cruel foes.

43 He many times delivered them,
But they, rebellious and perverse,
Were by their crimes, full oft, brought low —
Such their propension to the worse.

44 Yet when He heard their moaning cry,
45 His covenant He called to mind,
46 And pitied them, and made the hearts
Of captors pitiful and kind.

47 Save us, O Lord! and gather us
From out the nations, and restore,
That we may give Thee sounding thanks
And triumph in Thy praise once more.

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to
everlasting; and let all the people say. Amen. Praise
ye the Lord.