12 Vast armies, by such generals led
As yet had ne'er received a foil,
Forsook their camp with sudden dread,
And to our women left the spoil.

13 Though Egypt's drudges you have been,
Your army's wing shall shine as bright
As doves, in golden sun-shine seen,
Or silvered o'er with paler light.

14 'Twas so, when God's almighty hand

O'er scattered kings the conquest won;
Our troops, drawn up on Jordan's strand,
High Salmon's glittering snow outshone.
15 From thence to Jordan's farther coast,
And Bashan's hill, we did advance :
No more her height shall Bashan boast,
But that she's God's inheritance.

16 But wherefore (though the honour's great) Should this, O mountain, swell your pride? For Sion is his chosen seat,

Where he for ever will reside.

17 His chariots numberless; his powers
Are heavenly hosts, that wait his will;
His presence now fills Sion's towers,
As once it honoured Sinai's hill.
18 Ascending high, in triumph thou
Captivity hast captive led,
And on thy people didst bestow

The spoil of armies once their dread.
Ev'n rebels shall partake thy grace,
And humble proselytes repair
To worship at thy dwelling-place,
And all the world pay homage there.
19 For benefits each day bestowed,
Be daily his great name adored,
20 Who is our Saviour and our God,

Of life and death the sovereign Lord. 21 But justice for his hardened foes

Proportioned vengeance hath decreed, To wound the hoary head of those Who in presumptuous crimes proceed. 22 The Lord hath thus in thunder spoke :"As I subdued proud Bashan's king,

"Once more I'll break my people's yoke, "And from the deep my servants bring. 23"Their feet shall with a crimson flood

"Of slaughtered foes be covered o'er, "Nor earth receive such impious blood, "But leave for dogs the unhallowed gore."

PART III.

24 When, marching to thy blessed abode,
The wondering multitude surveyed
The pompous state of thee, our God,
In robes of majesty arrayed,-

25 Sweet-singing Levites led the van;

Loud instruments brought up the rear;
Between both troops, a virgin train

With voice and timbrel charmed the ear.
26 This was the burthen of their song:-
"In full assemblies bless the Lord;
"All who to Israel's tribes belong,
"Of Israel's God the praise record."

27 Nor little Benjamin alone

From neighb'ring bounds did there attend, Nor only Judah's nearer throne

Her counsellors in state did send ;

But Zebulon's remoter seat,

And Naphtali's more distant coast,
The grand procession to complete,

Sent up their tribes, a princely host.

28 Thus God to strength and union brought

Our tribes, at strife till that blessed hour; This work, which thou, O God, hast wrought, Confirm with fresh recruits of power.

29 To visit Salem, Lord, descend,

And Sion, thy terrestrial throne,
Where kings with presents shall attend,
And thee with offered crowns atone.

30 Break down the spearmen's ranks, who threat Like pampered herds of savage might; Their silver-armoured chiefs defeat,

Who in destructive war delight.

31 Egypt shall then to God stretch forth Her hands, and Afric homage bring,

32 The scattered kingdoms of the earth Their common Sovereign's praises sing,33 Who, mounted on the loftiest sphere Of ancient heaven, sublimely rides, From whence his dreadful voice we hear, Like that of warring winds and tides. 34 Ascribe the power to God most high; Of humble Israel he takes care; Whose strength, from out the dusky sky, Darts shining terrors through the air. 35 How dreadful are the sacred courts, Where God has fixed his earthly throne! His strength his feeble saints supports, To give God praise, and him alone.

1 SAV

PSALM 69.

AVE me, O God, from waves that roll,
And press to overwhelm my soul;

2 With painful steps in mire I tread,
And deluges o'erflow my head.

3 With restless cries my spirits faint,
My voice is hoarse with long complaint,
My sight decays with tedious pain,
Whilst for my God I wait in vain.

4 My hairs, though numerous, are but few,
Compared with foes that me pursue

With groundless hate; grown now of might
To execute their lawless spite.

They force me, guiltless, to resign,
As rapine, what by right was mine;
5 Thou, Lord, my innocence dost see,
Nor are my sins concealed from thee.
6 Lord God of hosts, take timely care,

Lest, for my sake, thy saints despair; 7 Since I have suffered for thy name Reproach, and hid my face in shame ;8 A stranger to my country grown, Nor to my nearest kindred known; A foreigner, exposed to scorn By brethren of my mother born :

9 For zeal to thy loved house and name Consumes me like devouring flame;

Concerned at their affronts to thee More than at slanders cast on me. 10 My very tears and abstinence

They construe in a spiteful sense; 11 When clothed with sackcloth for their sake, They me their common proverb make. 12 Their judges at my wrongs do jest,

Those wrongs they ought to have redressed:
How should I then expect to be

From libels of lewd drunkards free?
13 But, Lord, to thee I will repair
For help, with humble, timely prayer;
Relieve me from thy mercy's store;
Display thy truth's preserving power.
14 From threatening dangers me relieve,
And from the mire my feet retrieve;
From spiteful foes in safety keep,
And snatch me from the raging deep.
15 Control the deluge, ere it spread,
And roll its waves above my head;
Nor deep destruction's open pit
To close her jaws on me permit.
16 Lord, hear the humble prayer I make,
For thy transcending goodness' sake;
Relieve thy supplicant once more
From thy abounding mercy's store.
17 Nor from thy servant hide thy face;
Make haste, for desperate is my case;
18 Thy timely succour interpose,

And shield me from remorseless foes.
19 Thou know'st what infamy and scorn
I from my enemies have borne;
Nor can their close-dissembled spite,
Or darkest plots, escape thy sight.

20 Reproach and grief have broke my heart;
I looked for some to take my part,
To pity or relieve my pain;
But looked, alas! for both in vain.

21 With hunger pined, for food I call;
Instead of food, they give me gall;
And, when with thirst my spirits sink,
They give me vinegar to drink.

22 Their tables, therefore, to their health Shall prove a snare, a trap their wealth; 23 Perpetual darkness seize their eyes,

And sudden blasts their hopes surprise. 24 On them thou shalt thy fury pour,

Till thy fierce wrath their race devour, 25 And make their house a dismal cell, Where none will e'er vouchsafe to dwell. 26 For new afflictions they procured

For him who had thy stripes endured, And made the wound thy scourge had torn To bleed afresh, with sharper scorn. 27 Sin shall to sin their steps betray,

Till they to truth have lost the way: 28 From life thou shalt exclude their soul, Nor with the just their names enrol. 29 But me, howe'er distressed and poor, Thy strong salvation shall restore; 30 Thy power with songs I'll then proclaim, And celebrate with thanks thy name. 31 Our God shall this more highly prize Than herds or flocks in sacrifice; 32 Which humble saints with joy shall see, And hope for like redress with me. 33 For God regards the poor's complaint, Sets prisoners free from close restraint; 34 Let heaven, earth, sea, their voices raise, And all the world resound his praise.

35 For God will Sion's walls erect,
Fair Judah's cities he'll protect,
Till all her scattered sons repair
To undisturbed possession there.
36 This blessing they shall, at their death,
To their religious heirs bequeath,
And they to endless ages more
Of such as his blessed name adore.

10

PSALM 70.

LORD, to my relief draw near;
For never was more pressing need;
For my deliverance, Lord, appear,
And add to that deliverance speed.