20 They spake against God also, saying: Shall God prepare a table in the wilderness?

21 He smote the stony rock indeed, that the water gushed out, and the streams flowed withal : but can he give bread also, or provide flesh for his people?

22 When the Lord heard this, he was wroth: so the fire was kindled in Jacob, and there came up heavy displeasure against Israel;

23 Because they believed not in God and put not their trust in his help.

24 So he commanded the clouds above and opened the doors of heaven.

25 He rained down manna also upon them for to eat and gave them food from heaven.

26 So man did eat angels' food for he sent them meat enough.

27 He caused the east-wind to blow under heaven and through his power he brought in the south-west-wind.

28 He rained flesh upon them as thick as dust : and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea.

29 He let it fall among their tents: even round about their habitation.

30 So they did eat, and were well filled; for he gave them their own desire they were not disappointed of their lust.

31 But while the meat was yet in their mouths, the heavy wrath-of God came upon them, and slew the wealthiest of them: yea, and smote down the chosen men that were in Israel.

32 But for all this they sinned yet more and believed not his wondrous works.

33 Therefore their days did he consume in vanity and their years in trouble.

34 When he slew them, they sought him and turned them early, and enquired after God.

35 And they remembered that God was their

strength and that the high God was their redeemer.

36 Nevertheless, they did but flatter him with their mouth and dissembled with him in their tongue.

37 For their heart was not whole with him : neither continued they stedfast in his covenant. 38 But he was so merciful, that he forgave their misdeeds and destroyed them not.

39 Yea, many a time turned he his wrath away: and would not suffer his whole displeasure to arise.

40 For he considered that they were but flesh : and that they were even a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

41 Many a time did they provoke him in the wilderness and grieved him in the desert.

42 They turned back, and tempted God and moved the Holy One in Israel,

43 They thought not of his hand and of the day when he delivered them from the hand of the enemy;

44 How he had wrought his miracles in Egypt : and his wonders in the field of Zoan.

45 He turned their waters into blood: so that they might not drink of the rivers.

46 He sent lice among them, and devoured them up and frogs to destroy them.

47 He gave their fruit to the caterpillar their labour unto the grasshopper.

and

48 He destroyed their vines with hailstones :

and their mulberry-trees with the frost.

49 He smote their cattle also with hail-stones : and their flocks with hot thunder-bolts.

50 He cast upon them the furiousness of his wrath, anger, displeasure, and trouble and sent evil angels among them.

51 He made a way to his indignation, and spared

not their souls from death: but gave their life over to the pestilence;

52 And smote all the first-born in Egypt: the most principal and mightiest in the dwellings of

Ham.

53 But as for his own people, he led them forth like sheep and carried them in the wilderness like a flock.

54 He brought them out safely, that they should not fear and overwhelmed their enemies with the sea.

55 And brought them within the borders of his sanctuary even to his mountain which he purchased with his right hand.

56 He cast out the heathen also before them : caused their land to be divided among them for an heritage, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.

57 So they tempted, and displeased the most high God and kept not his testimonies;

58 But turned their backs, and fell away like their forefathers: starting aside like a broken bow.

59 For they grieved him with their hill-altars: and provoked him to displeasure with their images.

60 When God heard this, he was wroth and took sore displeasure at Israel.

61 So that he forsook the tabernacle in Silo: even the tent that he had pitched among men. 62 He delivered their power into captivity their beauty into the enemy's hand.

and

63 He gave his people over also unto the sword : and was wroth with his inheritance.

64 The fire consumed their young men and their maidens were not given to marriage.

65 Their priests were slain with the sword : and there were no widows to make lamentation.

66 So the Lord awaked as one out of sleep and like a giant refreshed with wine.

67 He smote his enemies in the hinder parts: and put them to a perpetual shame.

68 He refused the tabernacle of Joseph and chose not the tribe of Ephraim;

69 But chose the tribe of Judah even the hill of Sion which he loved.

70 And there he built his temple on high and laid the foundation of it like the ground which he hath made continually.

71 He chose David also his servant and took him away from the sheep folds.

72 As he was following the ewes great with young ones he took him that he might feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.

73 So he fed them with a faithful and true heart: and ruled them prudently with all his power.

Morning Prayer.

PSALM 79. Deus, venerunt.

1 O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance thy holy temple have they defiled, and made Jerusalem an heap of stones.

2 The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the air: and the flesh of the saints unto the beasts of the land.

3 Their blood have they shed like water on every side of Jerusalem and there was no man to bury them.

4 We are become an open shame to our enemies : a very scorn and derision unto them that are round about us.

5 Lord, how long wilt thou be angry; shall thy jealousy burn like fire for ever?

6 Pour out thine indignation upon the heathen that have not known thee and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy Name.

7 For they have devouredJacob his dwelling place.

and laid waste

8 O remember not our old sins, but have mercy upon us, and that soon for we are come to great misery.

9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy Name: O deliver us, and be merciful unto our sins, for thy Name's sake.

10 Wherefore do the heathen say: Where is now their God?

11 O let the vengeance of thy servants' blood that is shed be openly shewed upon the heathen in our sight.

12 O Let the sorrowful sighing of the prisoners come before thee according to the greatness of thy power, preserve thou those that are appointed to die.

our

13 And for the blasphemy wherewith neighbours have blasphemed thee: reward thou them, O Lord, seven-fold into their bosom.

14 30 we, that are thy people, and sheep of thy pasture, shall give thee thanks for ever: and will always be shewing forth thy praise from generation to generation.

PSALM 80. Qui regis Israel.

1 Hear, O thou Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep shew thyself also, thou that sitteth upon the cherubims.

2 Before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasses : stir up thy strength, and come, and help us.

3 Turn us again, O God: shew the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.