The Psalms of David in meeter: newly translated, and diligently compared with the originall text, and former translations, more plaine, smooth, and agreeable to the text, then any heretofore. ; Allowed by the authority of the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland, and appointed to be sung in congregations and families.

PSAL. LXXVIII. Maschil of Asaph. (Book 78)

A Trend, my people, to my Law, thereto give thou an ear: The words that from my mouth proceed attentively do hear. My mouth shall speak a parable,Line 2 and sayings dark of old: The same which we have heard, and known,Line 3 and us our fathers told.

We also will them not concealLine 4 from their posteritie: Them to the generation to come declare will we: The praises of the Lord our God, and His Almighty strength, The wondrous works that He hath done we will shew forth at length.

His testimony and His lawLine 5 in Israel He did place, And charg'd, our fathers, it to show to their succeeding race. That so the race, which was to come,Line 6 might well them learn and know; And sons unborn, who should arise, might to their sons them show:

That they might set their hope in God,Line 7 and suffer not to fall His mighty works out of their minde, but keep His precepts all. Line 8

And might not, like their fathers, beLine 8 a stiff rebellious race, A race not right in heart; with God whose sp'rit not stedfast was.

The sons of Ephraim, who nor bowsLine 9 nor other arms did lack, When as the day of battell was they faintly turned back. They brake Gods cov'nant, and refus'dLine 10 in His commands to go. His works and wonders they forgot,Line 11 which He to them did show.

Things marvellous He brought to passe,Line 12 their fathers them beheld, Within the land of Aegypt done, yea ev'n in Zoans field. By Him divided was the sea,Line 13 He caus'd them through to passe; And He the water made to stand, that like an heap it was.

With cloud by day, with light of fireLine 14 all night he did them guide. In desert rocks He clave and drinkLine 15 as from great depths supply'd. He from the rock brought streams, like floudsLine 16 made waters to run down. Yet sinning more, in desert theyLine 17 provok'd the Highest One.

For, in their heart they tempted God:Line 18 and speaking with mistrust, They greedily did meat require

to satisfie their lust. Against the Lord himself they spake,Line 19 and murmuring said thus, A table in the wildernesse can God prepare for us?

Behold, He smote the rock, and thenceLine 20 came streams and waters great; But can He give His people bread? and send them flesh to eat? The Lord did hear, and waxed wroth,Line 21 so kindled was a flame 'Gainst Jacob; and 'gainst Israel up indignation came:

For they believ'd not God, nor trustLine 22 in His salvation had: Though flouds above He did command,Line 23 and heav'ns doors open made; And Manna rain'd on them, and gave them corn of heav'n to eat. Man Angels food did eat, to themLine 25 He to the full sent meat.

And in the heaven He did causeLine 26 an Eastern winde to blow; And by his power He let out the Southern winde to go. Then flesh, as thick as dust, He madeLine 27 to rain down them among; And feathered fowls, like as the sand which ly'th the shore along.

At his command amidst their campLine 28 these showres of flesh down fell,

All round about the tabernacles and tents where they did dwell. So did they eat abundantly,Line 29 and had of meat their fill; For He did give to them what was their own desire and will.

They from their lust had not estrang'dLine 30 their heart and their desire; But while the meat was in their mouth, which they did so require, Gods wrath upon them came, and slewLine 31 the fattest of them all; So that the choise of Israel, o'rethrown by death, did fall.

Yet notwithstanding of all this,Line 32 they sinned still the more; And, though He had great wonders wrought, believ'd Him not therefore. Wherefore their dayes in vanityLine 33 He did consume and wast, And by His wrath their wretched years away in trouble past.

But when He slew them, then they didLine 34 to seek Him shew desire: Yea, they return'd, and after God right early did inquire. And that the Lord had been their RockLine 35 they did remember then: Ev'n that the high Almighty God had their Redeemer been.

Yet with their mouth they flatter'd Him,Line 36

and spake but fainedly, And they unto the God of truth with their false tongues did ly. For, though their words were good, their heartLine 37 with Him was not sincere: Unstedfast and perfidious they in his covenant were.

But full of pity, He forgaveLine 38 their sin, them did not slay; Nor stirr'd up all His wrath, but oft his anger turn'd away. For that they were but fading fleshLine 39 to minde He did recall; A winde that passeth soon away, and not returns at all.

How often did they Him provokeLine 40 within the wildernesse? And in the desert did Him grieve with their rebelliousnesse? Yea, turning back they tempted God,Line 41 and limits set upon Him who in midst of Israel is the onely Holy One.

They did not call to minde His pow'r;Line 42 nor yet the day when He Delivered them out of the hand of their fierce enemie. Nor how great signes in Aegypt landLine 43 He openly had wrought, What miracles in Zoans field His hand to passe had brought.

How lakes and rivers every whereLine 44 He turned into bloud; So that nor man, nor beast could drink of standing lake or floud. He brought among them swarms of flies,Line 45 which did them sore annoy; And diverse kindes of filthy frogs He sent, them to destroy.

He to the caterpiller gaveLine 46 the fruits of all their soil: Their labours He deliver'd up unto the locusts spoil. Their vines with hail, their sycomorsLine 47 He with the frost did blast. Their beasts to hail He gave, their flocksLine 48 hot thunder-bolts did wast.

Fierce burning wrath He on them cast,Line 49 and indignation strong, And troubles sore, by sending forth ill angels them among. He to His wrath made way: their soulLine 50 from death He did not save; But over to the pestilence the lifes of them He gave.

In Aegypt Land the first-born allLine 51 He smote down every where; Amongst the tents of Ham, ev'n these chief of their strength that were. But His own people like to sheepLine 52 thence to go forth He made; And He amidst the wildernesse them, as a flock, did lead.

And He them safely on did lead,Line 53 so that they did not fear: Whereas their enemies by the sea quite overwhelmed were. To borders of His SanctuaryLine 54 the Lord his people led, Ev'n to the mount, which His right hand for them had purchased.

The nations of CanaanLine 55 by His Almighty hand Before their face He did expell out of their native land, Which for inheritance to them by line He did divide, And made the tribes of Israel within their tents abide.

Yet God most high they did provoke,Line 56 and tempted ever still, And to observe His testimonies did not incline their will. But like their fathers turned back,Line 57 and dealt unfaithfully: Aside they turned, like a bow that shoots deceitfully.

For, they to anger did provokeLine 58 Him with their places hie; And with their graven images mov'd Him to jealousie. When God heard this, He waxed wroth,Line 59 and much loath'd Israel then: So Shilohs tent He left, the tentLine 60 which He had plac'd with men:

And He his strength deliveredLine 61 into captivity, He left his glory in the hand of his proud enemy. His people also He gave overLine 62 unto the swords fierce rage: So sore His wrath inflamed was against his heritage.

The fire consum'd their choyce young men:Line 63 their maids no marriage had. And when their priests fell by the sword,Line 64 their wives no mourning made. But then the Lord arose, as oneLine 65 that doth from sleep awake; And like a gyant, that by wine refresht, a shout doth make.

Upon his enemies hinder partsLine 66 He made his stroke to fall; And so upon them He did put a shame perpetuall. Moreover, He the tabernacleLine 67 of Joseph did refuse; The mighty tribe of Ephraim He would in no wise chuse.

But He did chuse Jehudahs tribeLine 68 to be the rest above, And of mount Sion He made choise, which He so much did love. And He his Sanctuary built,Line 69 like to a palace hie, Like to the earth, which He did found to perpetuitie.

Of David, that his servant was,Line 70 He also choise did make; And even from the folds of sheep was pleased him to take. From waiting on the ews with young,Line 71 He brought him for to feed Israel, His inheritance, His people Jacobs seed.

So after the integrityLine 72 of his heart He them fed; And by the good skill of His hands them wisely governed.