To save us by thy might. 3 Turn us again, thy grace divine 4 Lord God of Hosts, how long wilt thou, How long wilt thou declare Against thy people's prayer! 5 Thou feed'st them with the bread of tears, Their bread with tears they eat, And mad'st them largely drink the tears Wherewith their cheeks are wet. 6 A strife thou mak'st us and a prey And flouts at us they throw. 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 filled the land at last. 10 With her green shade that covered all, The hills were overspread, Her boughs as high as cedars tall 11 Her branches on the western side 12 Why hast thou laid her hedges low, 13 The tuskèd boar out of the wood Wild beasts there browse, and make their food Her grapes and tender shoots. 14 Return now, God of Hosts, look down 15 Visit this vine, which thy right hand Thou hast made firm and strong. 16 But now it is consumed with fire, And cut with axes down; 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. 18 So shall we not go back from thee To ways of sin and shame; Quicken us thou, then gladly we Shall call upon thy name. 19 Return us, and thy grace divine, Lord God of Hosts, vouchsafe, PSALM LXXXI. I 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 psaltery bring along, 3 Blow, as is wont, in the new moon 4 This was a statute given of old A law of Jacob's God, to hold, From whence they might not swerve. 5 This he a testimony ordained In Joseph, not to change, When as he passed 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, Delivered were by me. 7 When trouble did thee sore assail, And led thee out of thrall. 8 Hear, O my people, hearken well, If thou wilt list to me, 9 Throughout the land of thy abode Nor shalt thou to a foreign god 10 I am the Lord thy God, which brought II And yet my people would not hear, 12 Then did I leave them to their will, And to their wandering mind; Their own conceits they followed still, Their own devices blind. 13 Oh, that my people would be wise 14 Then would I soon bring down their foes, That now so proudly rise, And turn my hand against all those 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. 16 And he would feed them from the shock With flour of finest wheat, And satisfy them from the rock With honey for their meat. JOHN MILTON (1608-1674). PSALM LXXXII. I GOD in the great assembly stands 2 How long will ye pervert the right 4 Defend the poor and desolate, 5 They know not, nor will understand. In darkness they walk on; The earth's foundations all are moved, And out of order gone. 6I said that ye were gods, yea all The sons of God Most High; 7 But ye shall die like men, and fall As other princes die. 8 Rise, God, judge thou the earth in might, This wicked earth redress, For thou art he who shalt by right The nations all possess. JOHN MILTON (1608-1674). PSALM LXXXIII. I BE not thou silent now at length, O God, hold not thy peace; Sit thou not still, O God of strength, 2 For lo, thy furious foes now swell, And storm outrageously; And they that hate thee, proud and fell, Exalt their heads full high. 3 Against thy people ney contrive Their plots and counsels deep, Them to ensnare they chiefly strive, Whom thou dost hide and keep. 4 Come, let us cut them off, say they, Till they no nation be; That Israel's name. for ever may Be lost in memory. 5 For they consult with all their might, And all as one in mind Themselves against thee they unite, 6 The tents of Edom, and the brood Of scornful Ishmael, Moab, with them of Hagar's blood, 7 Gebal and Ammon there conspire, The Philistines, and they of Tyre, Whose bounds the sea doth check. 8 With them great Ashur also bands And doth confirm the knot: All these have lent their armed bands 9 Do to them as to Midian bold, When at the brook of Kishon old 10 At Endor quite cut off, and rolled II As Zeb and Oreb evil sped, 12 For they amidst their pride have said, 13 My God, oh make them as a wheel, 14 As when an agèd wood takes fire The greedy flame runs higher and higher |