The Whole Booke of Psalmes ‎#42

42. Attendite populi

1 Attend my people to my Law,
and to my words incline:
2 My mouth shall speak strange parables,
and sentences divine.
Which we ourselves have heard and learn'd
even of our Fathers old:
And which for our instruction,
our fathers have us told:

4 Because we should not keep it close
from them that should come after
Who should Gods power to their race praise,
and all his works of wonder:
5 To Jacob he commandment gave.
how Israel should live:
Willing our fathers should the same
unto their children give.

6 That they and their posterity,
that were not sprung up tho,
Should have the knowledge of the law,
and teach it their seed also.
7 That they might have the better hope
in God that is above:
And not forget to keep his lawes,
and his precepts in love.

8 Not being as their fathers were,
rebelling in Gods sight
And would not frame their wicked hearts
to know their God aright.
9 How went the people of Ephraim
their neighbours for to spoile:
Shooting their shafts in day of warre,
and yet receiv'd the foile?

10 For why? they did not keep with God
the covenant that was made:
Nor yet would walk or lead their lives
according to his trade.
11 But put into oblivion,
his counsell and his will:
And all his works magnifique,
which he declared still.

The second Part:

12 What wonders to our fore-fathers
did he himselfe disclose:
In Egypt land, within the field,
that call'd is Thaneos?
13 He did divide and cut the sea,
that they might passe at once:
And made the waters stand as still
as doth an heape of stones.

14 He led them secret in a cloud
by day when it was bright:
And in the night when it dark it was,
with fire he gave them light.
15 He brake the rocks in wildernesse,
and gave the people drink:
As plentifull as when the deeps
do flow up to the brink.

16 He drew out rivers out of rocks
that were both drie and hard:
Of such abundance that no floods
to them might be compar'd.
17 Yet for all this against the Lord
their sin they did increase:
And stirred him that is most high,
to wrath in wildernesse.

18 They tempted God within their hearts
like people of mistrust,
Requiring such a kind of meat,
as served to their lust.
19 Saying with murmuration,
in their unfaithfulness:
What? can this God prepare for us
a fest in wildernesse?

20 Behold he strake the stony rocks,
and flouds forthwith did flow:
But call he now give to his folk
both bread and flesh also?
21 When God heard this, he waxed worth
with Jacob and his seed:
So did his indignation
on Israel proceed.

The third Part:

22 Because they did not faithfully
believe, and hope that he
Could alwaies help and succour them
in their necessity.
23 Wherefore he did command the clouds,
forthwith they brake in sunder:
24 And raine' down Manna for them to eate,
a food of mickle wonder.

25 When earthly men with Angels food
were fed at their request:
26 He bad the East wind blow away,
and brought in the South-West.
27 He rain'd down flesh as thick as dust,
and fowle as thick as sand:
28 Which he did cast amid the place
where all their tents did stand.

29 Then did they eat exceedingly,
and all men had their fils:
Yet more and more they did desire
to serve their lusts and wils.
30 But as the meat was in their mouthes
his wrath upon them fell:
31 And slew the flower of all their youth,
and choice of Israel.

32 Yet fell they to their wonted sin,
and still they did him grieve:
For all the wonders that he wrought,
they would him not believe.
33 Their daies therefore he shortened.
and made their honour vaine:
Their years did wast and passe away,
with terror and with paine.

34 But ever when he plagued them,
they sought by and by:
35 Remembring that he was their strength,
their help and God most high.
36 Though with their mouths they did but glose,
but flatter with the Lord:
And with their tongues & in their hearts
dissembled every word.

The fourth Part.

37 For why their hearts were nothing bent,
to him nor to his trade:
Nor yet to keep or to performe
the covenant that was made.
38 Yet was he still so mercifull,
when they deserv'd to die:
That he forgave them atheir misdeeds,
and would not them destroy.

Yea many a time he tam'd his wrath,
and did himselfe advise:
And would not suffer all his whole
displeasure to arise.
39 Considering that they were but flesh,
and even as a wind,
Passing away, and cannot well
return by his own kind.

40 How oftentimes in wildernesse
did they the Lord provoke?
How did they move and stirre the Lord
to plague them with his stroke?
41 Yet did they turn againe to sin,
and tempted God esticone:
Prescribing to the holy Lord,
what things they would have done.

42 Not thinking of his hand and power
nor of the day when he
Delivered them out of the jamds
of the fierce enemy.
43 Nor how he wrought his miracles
(as they themselves beheld)
In Egypt, and the wonders that
he did in Zoan field.

44 Nor how he turned by his power,
their waters into blood:
That no man might receive his drink
at river nor at floud.
45 Nor how he sent them swarms of flies
which did them sore annoy:
And fil'd their countrey full with frogs,
which did their land destroy.

The fifth Part:

46 Nor how he did commit their fruits
unto the Caterpillar
And of the labour of their hands
he gave to the grashopper.
47 With haile-stones he destroid their vines,
so that they all were lost:
And not so much as wild fig-trees,
but he consum'd with frost.

48 And yet with haile-stones once again
the Lord their cattel smote:
And all their flocks and heards likewise
with thunder-bolts full hot.
49 He cast upon them in his ire,
and in his fury strong,
displeasure, wrath and evil spirits,
to trouble them among.

50 Then to his wrath he made a way,
and spared not the least:
But gave unto the pestilence
the man and eke the beast.
51 He strake also all the first-borne all,
that up in Egypt came:
And all the chiefe of men and beasts
within the tents of Ham.

52 But as for his own deare folk,
he did preserve and keep:
And carried them through wildernesse,
even like a flock of sheep.
53 Without all feare both safe and sound
He brought them out of thrall:
Whereas their foes with rage of seas
were over-whelmeed all.

54 And brought them out into the coasts
of his own holy land:
Even to the Mount which he had got
by his strong arm and hand.
55 And there cast out the heathen folk,
and did their land divide:
And in their tents he set the Tribes
of Israel to abide.

56 Yet for all this their God most high
they stir'd and tempted still:
And would not keep his Testament,
nor yet obey his will.
57 But as their fathers turned back,
even so they went astray:
Much like a bow that would not bend,
but slips and start away.

The sixt Part:

58 And griev'd him with their hill-altars,
with offrings and with fire:
And with their idols vehemently
provoked him to ire.
59 Therewith his wrath begain againe
to kindle in his brest:
The naughtinesse of Israel
he did so much detest.

60 Then he forsook the Tabernacle
of Shilo, where he was
Right conversant with earthly men,
even as his dwelling place.
61 Then suffered he his might and power
in bondage for to stand"
And gave the honour of his Ark
into his enemies hand.

62 And did commit them to the sword,
wroth with his heritage:
63 Their young men were devour'd with fire,
maids had no marriage.
64 And with the sword the Priests also
did perish every one:
And not a widow left alive
their death for to bemoane.

65 And then the Lord began to wake
like one that slept a time:
And like a vailiant man of warre,
refreshed is with wine.
66 With Emrods in the hinder parts
he strake his enemies all:
And put them then into a shame
that was perpetuall.

67 Then he the tent and tabernacle
of Joseph did refuse:
As for the tribe of Ephriam.
he would in no wise chuse.
68 But chose the Tribe of Jehuda,
whereas he thought to dwell,
Even the noble mount Sion,
which he did love so well.

69 Whereas he did his Temple build,
both sumptuously and sure:
Like as the earth which he hath made
for ever to endure.
70 Then chose he David him to serve,
his people for to keep:
Whom he took up and brought away
Even from the folds of sheep.

71 As he did follow th'Ewes with young
the Lord did him advance:
To feed his people Israel,
and his inheritance.
72 Thus David with a faithfull heart
his flock and charge did feed:
And prudently with all his power
Did governe them indeed.

Text Information

• First Line: Attend my people to my law
• Title: Attendite populi
• Author: J. H.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1640
• Scripture:
  Psalm 78

Tune Information

• Name: [Attend my people to my law]
• Key: d minor