Hymnal: NVPD1752 #138 (1752) Lyrics: 1. My People close Attention give,
And my Instruction wisely hear;
To wholsome Words, which I shall speak,
Bow an obedient list'ning Ear.
2. My Mouth shall Parables relate;
And ancient Mysteries unfold;
3. Which we our selves have heard, and known;
And what our Fathers have us told
4. We'll not conceal them from their Sons,
But to the future Race make known,
Jehovah's Praise, his mighty Strength,
And wondrous Works which he hath done!
5. A Witness he, in Jacob, fix'd.
In Isr'el his good Laws ordain'd;
And charg'd our Fathers, all their Seed,
In Knowledge of them, should be train'd.
6. That Generations yet to come,
Piously taught, these Things might know;
Their Children, yet unborn, might rise.
And them to their Descendants show.
7. That they their Hope, on God alone,
Thro' ev'ry Age, might firmly stay;
The Works of God might not forget,
But learn his Precepts to obey.
8. And might not, like our Fathers, prove
A stubborn, and rebellious, Race:
Whose Heart was not sincere vwith God,
Nor Spirit stedfast in his Grace.
9. The armed Sons of Ephraim,
Train'd to the Use of Dart, and Bow,
In Day of Battle turn'd their Backs,
And meanly fled before the Foe.
ID. They broke the Cov'nant of their God,
And did his sacred Laws despise:
11. Forgat his Works, and Miracles,
Which he had wrought before their Eyes.
Second Part
11. He Wonders to their Father's shew'd.
In Zoan's Field, in Egypt's Land.
13. He clave the Sea, thro' which they pass'd,
And made, in Heap's, the Waters stand.
14. He led them with a Cloud, by Day,
And Fire, by Night; their Way to keep.
15. He in he Desert, clave the Rocks,
And gave them Drink, as from the Deep.
16. He fetch'd out Streams, from flinty Rocks,
They ran, like Rivers, by their Path.
17. Yet, in the Desert, more they sinn'd;
And the Most-High provok'd to Wrath.
18. For God they tempted in their Heart,
By asking Meat, as Lust them led.
19. Yea, against God they spake, and said,
"Can God, in Deserts, Tables spread?
20. "'Tis true;, he smote the Rock, and thence
"The Waters gush'd, and Streams o'erflow;
"But can he give Supplys of Bread?
"Or Flesh, on all this Host, bestow?
21. Jehovah heard, was very wroth.
And flaming Fire on Jacob fell;
His burning Anger fiercely rose,
Against unthankful Israel.
22. Because they God would not believe;
Nor in his Care, and Help, confide.
23. Tho' his Command, the Clouds above,
And Doors of Hcav'n, had open'd wide.
24. He rain'd down Manna, for their Bread;
And gave them Corn, from Heav'n, to eat.
25. Thus Man was fed with Angel's Food!
And to th' Full he gave them Meat.
26. In Heav'n he made the East Wind blow,
And rais'd the South, by his Command.
27. On them he rain'd down Flesh, like Dust;
Wing'd Fowl, as Seas unnumber'd Sand.
28. He lct it fall within their Camp;
And with it spread their Tents around.
29. So they did eat, and were well fill'd;
For thus their own Desire he crown'd.
30. Their Lusting still remained uncur'd;
But while the Meat was in their Throat,
31. God's Wrath arose, and slew their Chiefs;
Down Isr'el's chosen young Men smote.
Third Part
32. Yet, for all this, they sinned still;
His wondrous Works gain'd no Belief.
33. Thence he their Days consum'd in vain,
Their Years in terrifying Grief.
34.When some he slew, they fought him then;
And turn'd to God, with early Cry.
35. They call'd to Mind he was their Rock,
And their Redeemer, God Most-High.
36, But him they flatter'd with their Mouth;
And with their Tongues they basely ly'd.
37. For still their Heart was not sincere;
Nor in his Cov'nant did abide.
38. Yet full of Mercy, he forgave;
Nor brought them to Destruction quite:
Yea, oft he turn'd his Anger by;
Nor once did all his Wrath excite.
39. For he remember'd, they were frail,
Weak Flesh, whose greatest Strength is vain;
A Puff of Wind, which flyes away,
And never more returns again.
40. How oft they God provok'd, and griev'd.
In Deserts, where his Pow'r was shown?
41. They turned back, and tempted God,
Did limit Isr'el's holy One.
Fourtb Part
42. They thought not on the Hand,nor Day,
Which from their Foes Deliv'rance brought.
43. How God his Signs, in Egypt's Land,
In Zoan's Field, his Wonders, wrought,
44. He turn'd their Rivers, and their Streams,
To Blood; they could not drink the Gore.
45. Huge Swarms of divers Flies, and Frogs,
He sent to plague, and to devour.
46. To Caterpillars, he, their Store,
And Labcurs to the Locust, doom'd.
47. Their chearing Vines, he kiil'd with Hail;
Their Sycomores with Frost consum'd.
48. He gave their Cattle to the Hail;
their Flocks hot Thunder-Bolts devour'd.
49. On them he cast his fiercest Wrath,
And Troops of evil Angels pour'd.
50. He weigh'd his Angel's Path, nor spar'd
From Death; the Plague upon them came.
51. Egypt's First-born he smote, the chief,
And Strength, of all the Land of Ham.
52. But forth, like Sheep, he led his Tribes;
Thro' Deserts his own Flock did guide.
53. He led them safely, without Fear,
Where, on their Foes, he rowl'd the Tide.
54. He them conducted, till they reach'd
The Borders of his holy Land;
Till to this Mountain they arriv'd,
The Purchase of his own Right-hand.
55, The heathen Tribes, he did expel,
Before their Face; to them divide
Their Lots by Line; and made the Tribes
Of Isr'el in their Tents reside.
Fifth Part
56. They tempted still, and God Most-high
Provok'd; nor did his Laws obey.
57. They, like their Fathers, falsly dealt;
Like a false Bow, they turn'd away.
58. His Anger their high Places stir'd;
Their Idols mov'd his Jealousy.
59. When God heard this, then he was wroth,
And loathed Isr'el vehemently.
60. Then Sbiloh's Tent he quite forsook;
Where he was wont with Men to dwell:
61. Th' Ark of his Strength he captive sold;
In Hands of Foes his Glory fell.
62. He gave his People to the Sword;
Against his Heritage he flam'd.
63. Their young Men were with Fire consum'd;
The Nuptial Songs were rarely nam'd.
64. Their guilty Priests fell by the Sword;
Nor did their Widows scarce repine.
65. Jehovah rous'd, as one from Sleep;
As strong Men shout, enflam'd with Wine.
66. Then, in the hinder Parts, he smote,
And put to endless Shame, their Foes.
67. Yet did he Joseph^s Tent refuse;
Nor more the Tribe of Ephraim chose,
6%. But he selected Judah's Tribe;
The Mountain Sion, which he lov'd.
69. There rais'd his Temple up on high;
And fix'd it, like the Earth, unmov'd.
70. He chose his Servant David, whom
He from the Sheepfold did advance;
71. From tending Ewes, Jacob to feed,
And Isr'el, his Inheritance.
72. So he the Tribes of Isr'el led,
With great Integrity of Heart;
And guided all their State-Affairs,
With skilfull Hands, and prudent Art.
Scripture: Psalm 78 Languages: English
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