BE light and glad, in God rejoyce,
which is our strength and stay:
be joyful, and lift up your voice
to Jacobs God, I say.
[verse 2] Prepare your instruments most meet,
some joyful psalm to sing:
strike up with harp and lute so sweet,
on every pleasant string.
[verse 3] Blow as it were in the new-moon,
with trumpets of the best:
As it is used to be done
at any solemn feast.
•• For this is unto Israel
a statute and a trade:
••law that must be kept full well,
which Jacobs God hath made.
•• This clause with Joseph was decreed
when he from Egypt came,
That as a witness all his feed
should still observe the same.
•• When God. I say, had so prepar'd
to bring him from that land:
Whereas the speech which he had heard
he did not understand.
[verse 7] I from his shoulders took (saith he)
the burden clean away:
And from the furnace quit him free
from burning brick of clay.
[verse 8] When thou in grief didst cry and call,
I holp thee by and by:
And I did answer thee withal
in thunder secretly.
[verse 9] Yea, at the waters of discord
I did thee tempt and prove:
Whereas the goodness of the Lord
with mutt'ring thou didst move.
[verse 10] Hear, O my folk, O Israel,
and I assure it thee:
Regard and mark my words full well,
if thou wilt cleave to me.