Already, and for him intended

The tools of death, that waits him near.

He digg'd a pit, and delved it deep,

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And glorious is thy name through al! the earth! So as above the Heav'ns thy praise to set Out of the tender mouths of latest birth. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou Hast founded strength because of all thy foes, To stint the enemy, and slack th' avenger's brow, That bends his rage thy providence to' oppose. When I behold thy Heav'ns, thy fingers' art, The moon and stars which thou so bright hast set In the pure firmament, theu saith my heart,

O what is man that thou rememb'rest yet,

And think'st upon him; or of man begot,

5

9

That him thon visit'st, and of him art found? Scarce to be less than gods, thou mad'st his lot, With honour and with state thou hast him crown'd. O'er the works of thy hand thou mad'st him Lord, Thou hast put all under his lordly feet,

15

All flocks, and herds, by thy commanding word,
All beasts that in the field or forest meet,

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Fowl of the Heav'ns, and fish that through the wet Sea paths in shoals do slide, and know no dearth.. O Jehovah our Lord, how wondrous great

And glorious is thy name through all the earth!

Nine of the Psalms done into metre, wherein all, but what is in a different character, are the very words of the text, translated from the original.— April, 1648. J. M.

PSALM LXXX.

1 THOU Shepherd that dost Israel keep Give ear in time of need,

Who leadest like a flock of sheep

Thy loved Joseph's seed,

That sit'st between the Cherubs bright,

Between their wings out-spread,

Shine forth, and from thy cloud give light,

And on our foes thy dread.

2 In Ephraim's view and Benjamin's,

And in Manasse's sight,

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Awake thy strength, come, and be seen * Gnorera.

To save us by thy might.

3 Turn us again, thy grace divine

To us, O God, vouchsafe;

Cause thou thy face on us to shine,

And then we shall be safe.

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4 Lord God of Hosts, how long wilt thou,

How long wilt thou declare

Thy smoking wrath, and angry brow * Gnashanta. Against thy people's pray'r!

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5 Thou feed'st them with the bread of tears,

Their bread with tears they eat,

And mak'st them largely drink the tears * Shalish.

Wherewith their cheeks are wet.

6 A strife thou mak'st us and a prey

To every neighbour foe,

*

Among themselves they laugh, they
And flouts at us they throw.

*

25

play, • Jilgnagu.

7 Return us, and thy grace divine,

O God of Hosts, vouchsafe,

Cause thou thy face on us to shine,

And then we shall be safe.

8 A vine from Egypt thou hast brought,
Thy free love made it thine,

And drov'st out nations, proud and haut,
To plant this lovely vine.

9 Thou didst prepare for it a place,
And root it deep and fast,

That it began to grow apace,

And fill'd the land at last.

10 With her green shade that cover'd all The hills were over-spread,

12 Why hast thou laid her hedges low, And broken down her fence,

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That all may pluck her, as they go,

With rudest violence?

13 The tusked boar out of the wood

Up turns it by the roots,

Wild beasts there brouze, and make their food
Her grapes and tender shoots.

14 Return now, God of Hosts, look down

From Heav'n, thy seat divine,

Behold us, but without a frown,

And visit this thy vine.

15 Visit this vine, which thy right hand Hath set, and planted long,

And the young branch, that for thyself
Thou hast made firm and strong.

16 But now it is consumed with fire, And cut with axes down,

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They perish at thy dreadful ire,

At thy rebuke and frown.

17 Upon the Man of thy right hand

Let thy good hand be laid,

Upon the Son of man, whom thou

Strong for thyself hast made.

Shall call upon thy name.

19 Return us, and thy grace divine,
Lord God of Hosts, vouchsafe,

Cause thou thy face on us to shine,
And then we shall be safe.

PSALM LXXXI

1 To God our strength sing loud, and clear, Sing loud to God our King;

To Jacob's God, that all may hear,

Loud acclamations ring.

2 Prepare a hymn, prepare a song,
The timbrel hither bring,
The cheerful psaltry bring along,
And harp with pleasant string.

3 Blow, as is wont, in the new moon
With trumpet's lofty sound,

Th' appointed time, the day whereon
Our solemn feast comes round.

4 This was a statute given of old

For Israel to observe,

A law of Jacob's God, to hold,

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10

15

From whence they might not swerve.

5 This he a testimony' ordain'd

In Joseph, not to change,

When as he pass'd through Egypt land;
The tongue I heard was strange.

6 From burden and from slavish toil
I set his shoulder free;

His hands from pots and miry soil
Deliver'd were by me.

7 When trouble did thee sore assail

On me then didst thou call,

And I to free thee did not fail,

And led thee out of thrall.

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I answer'd thee * in thunder deep * Be sether ragnam.

With clouds encompass'd round;

I tried thee at the water steep

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9 Throughout the land of thy

Of Meriba renown'd.

8 Hear, O my people, hearken well,

I testify to thee,

Thou ancient stock of Israel,

If thou wilt list to me,

No alien god shall be,

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Nor shalt thou to a foreign god

11 And yet my people would not hear Nor hearken to my voice;

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And Israel, whom I loved so dear,
Misliked me for his choice.

12 Then did I leave them to their will,
And to their wand'ring mind;

Their own conceits they follow'd still,
Their own devices blind.

13 O that my people would be wise,

To serve me all their days,

And O that Israel would advise

To walk my righteous ways!

14 Then would I soon bring down their foes,

That now so proudly rise,

And turn my hand against all those

That are their enemies.

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15 Who hate the Lord should then be fain

To bow to him and bend,

But they, his people, should remain,

Their time should have no end