Annotations upon the five bookes of Moses, the booke of the Psalmes, and the Song of Songs, or, Canticles VVherein the Hebrevv vvords and sentences, are compared with, and explained by the ancient Greeke and Chaldee versions, and other records and monuments of the Hebrewes: but chiefly by conference with the holy Scriptures, Moses his words, lawes and ordinances, the sacrifices, and other legall ceremonies heretofore commanded by God to the Church of Israel, are explained. With an advertisement touching some objections made against the sinceritie of the Hebrew text, and allegation of the Rabbines in these annotations. As also tables directing unto such principall things as are observed in the annotations upon each severall booke. By Henry Ainsworth.

〈♫〉〈♫〉 GIve eare O heavens to that which I declare, and [unspec 1] 〈♫〉〈♫〉 heare, O earth, what my mouths sayings are. Drop [unspec 2] 〈♫〉〈♫〉 downe as doth the raine shall my doctrine; distill as 〈♫〉〈♫〉 deaw so shall my speech divine: as on the tender 〈♫〉〈♫〉 herbe the small raine powres, and as upon the grasse 〈♫〉〈♫〉 the greater showres: For I Iehovahs name proclaime [unspec 3] 〈♫〉〈♫〉 abroad; O give ye greatnesse unto him our God.

The Rocke, most perfect is his action, because his wayes are judgement every one: [unspec 4] God is most faithfull, and iniquity in him is none, but just and right is he.

They on themselves have brought corruptions, [unspec 5] their spot is not of (those that be) his sonnes, they are a generation which is turnd to perversnesse, and to crookednesse.

Doe ye Iehovah in this wise reward, [unspec 6] O foolish folke, and wanting wise regard? thy Father that hath bought thee, is not hee? hath he not made thee, and establisht thee?

Remember thou the dayes that were of old, [unspec 7] minde ye the yeeres of ages manifold: aske thou thy Father, and thee shew will hee, thine Elders (aske) and they will tell it thee.

When the Most high dealt to the Nations [unspec 8] their heritage, and severed Adams sonnes; the borders of the peoples set he then, as number was of Israels children.

For his folke is Iehovahs portion, [unspec 9] Iakob the line of his possession.

Him in a land of wildernesse he found, in empty place, and howling desart ground: [unspec 10] about he led him, taught him prudency; he kept him as the apple of hit eye.

Like as an Eagle stirreth up her nest, [unspec 11] she moveth fluttring over her youngest; she spreds abroad her wings, them taketh soft, upon her wings she beareth them aloft: [unspec 12] So did Iehovah leade him all alone, and other strange god with him was there none. He made him ride on the earths places hie, [unspec 13] that he might eat the fields fertilitie; he made him also from the rocke to sucke honey, and oile out of the flinty rocke: Butter of kine, milke also of the flocke, [unspec 14] [unspec \2] with fat of Lambs, and Rams of Basan stocke, and Goats, with fat of wheaty kidneies fine, and of the Grapes-bloud thou didst drink red wine.

But Iesurun did wex fat, and did kicke, [unspec 15] thou art wext fat, art covered, art growne thicke; the God which made him, then did he forsake, and of the Rock which sav'd him, light did make.

With strange gods they to jealousie him mov'd, [unspec 16] with loathsome idols they his anger prov'd.

They sacrific'd to devils, not to God; [unspec 17] to gods of whom themselves no knowledge had: unto new gods, which up but lately came, such as your fathers feared not the same. The Rocke that thee beg at thou mindest not, [unspec 18] and God that formed thee thou hast forgot. And of his sonnes and daughters, then the Lord [unspec 19] did see the provocation, and abhord.

And I will hide my face from them, said he; [unspec 20] I will behold what their last end shall be: for a most froward generation they children are, in whom faith there is none. [unspec 21] They have me unto jealousie moved with that which is not God, haue me stirred to indignation with their idols vaine: I them will move to jealousie againe with those which are no folke; to indignation I will provoke them with a foolish nation.

For, in mine anger kindled is a fire, [unspec 22] and to the lowest hell shall burne in ire; and shall consume land, and fruits of the same, and the foundations of the mounts inflame.

Vpon them I will heape up evill sorrowes, [unspec 23] upon them I will spend my piercing arrowes. They shall be burnt with hunger, and devour'd [unspec 24] with burning coales, and bitter plague out-pour'd: and teeth of beasts upon them I will bring, with poyson of serpents in dust-creeping.

Without, the sword it shall bereave them quite, [unspec 25] and from the inmost chambers fearefull fright: both the choise young man, and the virgin faire, the suckling, with the man of hoary haire. I said, I would them into corners drive, [unspec 26] I would men of their memory deprive.

Were it not that the wrath of th'enemy [unspec 27] I feared, lest behave themselves strangely their adversaries should, lest they should say, our high hand hath done all this, and not Iah. For they a people whose counsels are gone, [unspec 28] and understanding in them there is none. O that they wise were, would this understand, [unspec 29] that they consider would their latter end.

How should one make a thousand flee in chace, [unspec 30] and two make even ten thousand flie apace, except their strong Rocke had them sold away, iehovah had them shut up to decay. For their Rocke is not like our Rocke mighty, [unspec 31] and judge let be our very enemy. For their vine of the vine of Sodom is, [unspec 32] and of Gomorrahs blasted vine branches: their Grapes they be the Grapes of poysned gall, the clusters that they have are bitter all. Their wine is of the dragons poison fell, [unspec 33] and of the aspes whose venome is cruell. Is not this same laid up in store with mee, [unspec 34] even sealed up within my treasuree? To me belongs vengeance, and to repay [unspec 35] in time, when as their foot shall slide away: for day of their calamity is nie, and things that come on them, come hastily.

For Iah will to his people doe judgement. [unspec 36] and for his servants will himselfe repent, when he shall see that their strong hand is gone, and shut up, or remaining there is none. And he shall say, where doe their gods abide, [unspec 37] the rocke on whom for safety they relide? They which their sacrifices fat devour'd, [unspec 38] which drank the wine on their oblations powr'd let them arise, and shew you helpfull grace, let him be unto you an hiding place. Behold yee now, that I, even I am he, [unspec 39] and God there is not any beside me:

I kill and quicken; wound, and whole I make, and out of mine hand none away can take. For to the heav'ns my hand I lift on hie, [unspec 40] and say, I live unto eternity. If that my glittering sword I sharpe doe make, [unspec 41] and that mine hand on judgement hold doth take, unto my foes I render will vengeance, and them that hate me I will recompence. Mine arrowes I will drunken make with bloud, [unspec 42] (my sword shall also flesh devoure for food.) with bloud of them that wounded are, and thrall, even from the first beginning principall, shall be revenges on the enemy. Yee Gentiles with his folke shout joyfully, [unspec 43] bloud of his servants for avenge will he, and render vengeance unto them that be his adversories, and atonement make both for his land, and for his peoples sake.