PSALM CV.

Tate and Brady

2 Sing to his praise, in lofty hymns
His wond'rous works rehearse;
Make them the theme of your discourse,
And subject of your verse.

3 Rejoice in his Almighty Name,
Alone to be ador'd;
And let their heart o'erflow with joy
That humbly seek the Lord.

4 Seek ye the Lord, his saving strength
Devoutly still implore;
And, where he's ever present, seek
His face for evermore.

5 The wonders that his hands have wrought
Keep thankfully in mind;
The righteous statutes of his mouth,
And laws to us assign'd.

6 Know ye, his servant Abr'am's seed,
And Jacob's chosen race,
7 He's still our God, his judgments still
Throughout the earth take place.

8 His cov'nant he hath kept in mind
For num'rous ages past;
Which yet for thousand ages more
In equal force shall last.

9 First sign'd to Abr'am, next by oath
To Isaac made secure;
10 To Jacob and his heirs a law
For ever to endure.

11 That Canaan's land should be their lot,
When yet but few they were;
12 But few in number, and those few
All friendless strangers there.

13 In pilgrimage from realm to realm
Securely they remov'd;
14 Whilst proudest monarchs for their sakes
Severely he reprov'd.

15 These mine anointed are, said he,
Let none my servants wrong;
Nor treat the poorest prophet ill,
That does to me belong.

16 A dearth at last, by his command,
Did through the land prevail;
Till corn, the chief support of life,
Sustaining corn did fail.

17 But his indulgent providence
Had pious Joseph sent,
Sold into Egypt, but their death
Who sold him to prevent.

18 His feet with heavy chains were crush'd,
With calumny his fame;
19 Till God's appointed time and word
To his deliv'rance came.

20 The king his sov'reign order sent,
And rescu'd him with speed;
Whom private malice had confin'd,
The people's ruler freed.

21 His court, revenues, realm, were all
Subjected to his will;
22 His greatest princes to control,
And teach his statesmen skill.

23 To Egypt then, invited guests,
Half-famish'd Israel came;
And Jacob held, by royal grant,
The fertile soil of Ham.

24 Th' Almighty there with such increase
His people multiplied,
Till with their proud oppressors they
In strength and number vied.

25 Their vast increase th' Egyptians' hearts
With jealous anger fir'd,
Till they his servants to destroy
By treach'rous arts conspir'd.

26 His servant Moses then he sent,
His chosen Aaron too;
27 Empower'd with signs and miracles
To prove their mission true.

28 He call'd for darkness, darkness came;
Nature his summons knew;
29 Each stream and lake, transform'd to blood,
The wond'ring fishes slew.

30 In putrid floods, throughout the land,
The pest of frogs was bred;
From noisome fens sent up to croak
At Pharaoh's board and bed.

31 He gave the sign, and swarms of flies
Came down in cloudy hosts,
Whilst earth's enliven'd dust below
Bred lice through all their coasts.

32 He sent them batt'ring hail for rain,
And fire for cooling dew;
33 He smote their vines and forest plants,
And garden's pride o'erthrew.

34. He spake the word, and locusts came,
With caterpillars join'd;
They prey'd upon the poor remains
The storm had left behind.

35 From trees to herbage they descend,
No verdant thing they spare;
But, like the naked fallow field,
Leave all the pastures bare.

36 From fields to villages and towns
Commission'd vengeance flew;
One fatal stroke their eldest hopes
And strength of Egypt slew.

37 He brought his servants forth, enrich'd
With Egypt's borrow'd wealth;
And, what transcends all treasures else,
Enrich'd with vig'rous health.

38 Egypt rejoic'd, in hopes to find
Her plagues with them remov'd;
Taught dearly now to fear worse ills
By those already prov'd.

39 Their shrouding canopy by day
A journeying cloud was spread;
A fiery pillar all the night
Their desert marches led.

40 They long'd for flesh; with ev'ning quails
He furnish'd ev'ry tent;
From heav'n's own granary, each morn,
The bread of angels sent.

41 He smote the rock, whose flinty breast
Pour'd forth a gushing tide;
Whose flowing stream, where'er they march'd,
The desert's drought supplied.

42 For still he did on Abr'am's faith
And ancient league reflect;
43 He brought his people forth with joy,
With triumph his elect.

44 Quite rooting out their heathen foes
From Canaan's fertile soil,
To them in cheap possession gave
The fruit of others' toil.

45 That they his statutes might observe,
His sacred laws obey;
For benefits so vast let us
Our songs of praise repay.