Psalm 78

Common Metre (8,6,8,6)

Suggested Tunes: 138 Tallis, 31 Bedford, 52 Durham, 38 Caithness, 84 Manchester, 152 Old 44th

1    Attend, my people, to my law;

            thereto give thou an ear;

      The words that from my mouth proceed

            attentively do hear.

2    My mouth shall speak a parable,

            and sayings dark of old;

3    The same which we have heard and known,

            and us our fathers told.

4    We also will them not conceal

            from their posterity;

      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.

5    His testimony and his law

            in Isr’el he did place,

      And charg’d our fathers it to show

            to their succeeding race;

6    That so the race which was to come

            might well them learn and know;

      And sons unborn, who should arise,

            might to their sons them show:

7    That they might set their hope in God,

            and suffer not to fall

      His mighty works out of their mind,

            but keep his precepts all:

8    And might not, like their fathers, be

            a stiff rebellious race;

      A race not right in heart; with God

            whose sp’rit not stedfast was.

9    The sons of Ephraim, who nor bows

            nor other arms did lack,

      When as the day of battle was,

            they faintly turned back.

10  They brake God’s cov’nant, and refus’d

            in his commands to go;

11  His works and wonders they forgot,

            which he to them did shew.

12  Things marvellous he brought to pass;

            their fathers them beheld

      Within the land of Egypt done,

            yea, ev’n in Zoan’s field.

13  By him divided was the sea,

            he caus’d them through to pass;

      And made the waters so to stand,

            as like an heap it was.

14  With cloud by day, with light of fire

            all night, he did them guide.

15  In desert rocks he clave, and drink,

            as from great depths, supply’d.

16  He from the rock brought streams, like floods

            made waters to run down.

17  Yet sinning more, in desert they

            provok’d the Highest One.

18  For in their heart they tempted God,

            and, speaking with mistrust,

      They greedily did meat require

            to satisfy their lust.

19  Against the Lord himself they spake,

            and, murmuring, said thus,

      A table in the wilderness

            can God prepare for us?

20  Behold, he smote the rock, and thence

            came streams and waters great;

      But can he give his people bread?

            and send them flesh to eat?

21  The Lord did hear, and waxed wroth;

            so kindled was a flame

      ’Gainst Jacob, and ’gainst Israel

            up indignation came.

22  For they believ’d not God, nor trust

            in his salvation had;

23  Though clouds above he did command,

            and heav’n’s doors open made,

24  And manna rain’d on them, and gave

            them corn of heav’n to eat.

25  Man angels’ food did eat; to them

            he to the full sent meat.

26  And in the heaven he did cause

            an eastern wind to blow;

      And by his power he let out

            the southern wind to go.

27  Then flesh as thick as dust he made

            to rain down them among;

      And feather’d fowls, like as the sand

            which li’th the shore along.

28  At his command amidst their camp

            these show’rs of flesh down fell,

      All round about the tabernacles

            and tents where they did dwell.

29  So they did eat abundantly,

            and had of meat their fill;

      For he did give to them what was

            their own desire and will.

30  They from their lust had not estrang’d

            their heart and their desire;

      But while the meat was in their mouths,

            which they did so require,

31  God’s wrath upon them came, and slew

            the fattest of them all;

      So that the choice of Israel,

            o’erthrown by death, did fall.

32  Yet, notwithstanding of all this,

            they sinned still the more;

      And though he had great wonders wrought,

            believ’d him not therefore:

33  Wherefore their days in vanity

            he did consume and waste;

      And by his wrath their wretched years

            away in trouble past.

34  But when he slew them, then they did

            to seek him shew desire;

      Yea, they return’d, and after God

            right early did enquire.

35  And that the Lord had been their Rock

            they did remember then;

      Ev’n that the high almighty God

            had their Redeemer been.

36  Yet with their mouth they flatter’d him,

            and spake but feignedly;

      And they unto the God of truth

            with their false tongues did lie.

37  For though their words were good, their heart

            with him was not sincere;

      Unstedfast and perfidious

            they in his cov’nant were.

38  But, full of pity, he forgave

            their sin, them did not slay;

      Nor stirr’d up all his wrath, but oft

            his anger turn’d away.

39  For that they were but fading flesh

            to mind he did recall;

      A wind that passeth soon away,

            and not returns at all.

40  How often did they him provoke

            within the wilderness!

      And in the desert did him grieve

            with their rebelliousness!

41  Yea, turning back, they tempted God,

            and limits set upon

      Him, who in midst of Isr’el is

            the only Holy One.

42  They did not call to mind his pow’r,

            not yet the day when he

      Deliver’d them out of the hand

            of their fierce enemy;

43  Nor how great signs in Egypt land

            he openly had wrought;

      What miracles in Zoan’s field

            his hand to pass had brought.

44  How lakes and rivers ev’ry where

            he turned into blood;

      So that nor man nor beast could drink

            of standing lake or flood.

45  He brought among them swarms of flies,

            which did them sore annoy;

      And divers kinds of filthy frogs

            he sent them to destroy.

46  He to the caterpillar gave

            the fruits of all their soil;

      Their labours he deliver’d up

            unto the locusts’ spoil.

47  Their vines with hail, their sycamores

            he with the frost did blast:

48  Their beasts to hail he gave; their flocks

            hot thunderbolts did waste.

49  Fierce burning wrath he on them cast,

            and indignation strong,

      And troubles sore, by sending forth

            ill angels them among.

50  He to his wrath made way; their soul

            from death he did not save;

      But over to the pestilence

            the lives of them he gave.

51  In Egypt land the first-born all

            he smote down ev’ry where;

      Among the tents of Ham, ev’n these

            chief of their strength that were.

52  But his own people, like to sheep,

            thence to go forth he made;

      And he, amidst the wilderness,

            them, as a flock, did lead.

53  And he them safely on did lead,

            so that they did not fear;

      Whereas their en’mies by the sea

            quite overwhelmed were.

54  To borders of his sanctuary

            the Lord his people led,

      Ev’n to the mount which his right hand

            for them had purchased.

55  The nations of Canaan,

            by his almighty hand,

      Before their face he did expel

            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.

56  Yet God most high they did provoke,

            and tempted ever still;

      And to observe his testimonies

            did not incline their will:

57  But, like their fathers, turned back,

            and dealt unfaithfully:

      Aside they turned, like a bow

            that shoots deceitfully.

58  For they to anger did provoke

            him with their places high;

      And with their graven images

            mov’d him to jealousy.

59  When God heard this, he waxed wroth,

            and much loath’d Isr’el then:

60  So Shiloh’s tent he left, the tent

            which he had plac’d with men.

61  And he his strength delivered

            into captivity;

      He left his glory in the hand

            of his proud enemy.

62  His people also he gave o’er

            unto the sword’s fierce rage:

      So sore his wrath inflamed was

            against his heritage.

63  The fire consum’d their choice young men;

            their maids no marriage had;

64  And when their priests fell by the sword,

            their wives no mourning made.

65  But then the Lord arose, as one

            that doth from sleep awake;

      And like a giant that, by wine

            refresh’d, a shout doth make:

66  Upon his en’mies’ hinder parts

            he made his stroke to fall;

      And so upon them he did put

            a shame perpetual.

67  Moreover, he the tabernacle

            of Joseph did refuse;

      The mighty tribe of Ephraim

            he would in no wise chuse:

68  But he did chuse Jehudah’s tribe

            to be the rest above;

      And of mount Sion he made choice,

            which he so much did love.

69  And he his sanctuary built

            like to a palace high,

      Like to the earth which he did found

            to perpetuity.

70  Of David, that his servant was,

            he also choice did make,

      And even from the folds of sheep

            was pleased him to take:

71  From waiting on the ewes with young,

            he brought him forth to feed

      Israel, his inheritance,

            his people, Jacob’s seed.

72  So after the integrity

            he of his heart them fed;

      And by the good skill of his hands

            them wisely governed.