Maschil of Asaph.
1 GIve liftning ear unto my law,
ye people that are mine,
unto the sayings of my mouth
do ye your ear incline.
2 My mouth I’ll ope in parables,
I’ll speak hid things of old:
3 Which we have heard and known: and which
our fathers have us told.
4 Them from their children we’ll not hide,
to th’ after age shewing
the Lords praises: his strength, and works
of his wondrous doing.
5 In Jacob he a witness set,
and put in Israel
a law, which he our fathers charg’d,
they should their children tell:
6 That th’ age to come and children which
are to be borne might know;
that they might rise up and the same
unto their children show.
7 That they upon the mighty God
their confidence might set:
and Gods works and his commandment
might keep and not forget,
8 And might not like their fathers be,
a stiff, stout race; a race
that set not right their hearts: nor firm
with God their spirit was.
(2)
9 The armed sons of Ephraim,
that went out with their bow,
did turn their backs in the day when
they did to battle go.
10 Gods cov’nant they kept not: to walk
in his law they denied:
11 His works, and wonders, they forgot,
that he to them descried.
12 Things that were marvelous he did
within their fathers sight:
in Egypt’s land, within the field
of Zoan, by his might.
13 He did divide the sea, also
he caus’d them through to pass:
and he the waters made to stand
that as an heap it was.
14 With cloud by day, with fire all night
15 he led them; Rocks he clave
in wilderness, as from great deeps
drink unto them he gave.
16 Ev’n from out of the stony rock
streams he did bring also,
and caused water to run down
like as the rivers do.
(3)
17 Moreover they did add yet more
against him for to sin:
by their provoking the most high
the wilderness within.
18 An also they within their heart
did tempt the God of might:
by asking earnestly for meat
for their souls’ appetite:
19 Moreover they against God spake:
they said can God be able
within the desert wilderness
to furnish us a table:
20 Lo, he the rock smote, thence gusht out
waters, and streams did flow:
for his folk can he flesh provide,
can he give bread also?
21 The Lord heard, he was wroth for this,
so kindled was a fire
‘gainst Jacob: and ‘gainst Israel
there came up wrathful ire.
22 For they in God believed not:
nor in his health did hope:
23 Though from above he charg’d the clouds:
and doors of heav’n set ope:
(4)
24 Manna to eat he rain’d on them;
and gave them the heav’ns wheat.
25 Each man of them ate Angel’s food:
to th’ full he sent them meat.
26 Ith heav’ns he made the East-wind blow:
brought South-wind by his power.
27 He flesh on them like dust: wing’d fouls
like the seas sand did shower.
28 And in the middest of their camp
he caused it to fall,
ev’n round about on every side
their dwelling places all.
29 So they did eat, they filled were
abundantly also:
for that which was their own desire
he did on them bestow:
30 Howbeit they were not estrang’d
from their lustful desire:
but while their meat was in their mouths,
31 Upon them came Gods ire,
And slew their fat ones: and smote down
of Israel the choice men.
32 Still for all this they sinn’d: nor did
believe his wonders then.
(5)
33 Therefore he did in vanity
the days of their life spend,
and hastily he brought their years
unto a fearful end.
34 When he them flew, then after him
they sought with their desire:
and they return’d, early also
did after God enquire.
35 Likewise that God was their strong rock
they call’d to memory:
and that they mighty God most high,
was their Redeemer free.
36 Yet with their mouth they flattered him:
and to him their tongues lied.
37 For right their heart was not in them:
nor did in’s cov’nant bide.
38 But full of mercy, he forgave
their sin, and story’d them not;
yea, oft he turn’d his wrath aside,
nor rais’d all’s anger hot.
39 For he, that they were but frail flesh,
and as it were a wind
that passeth, and comes not again,
recalled unto mind.
(6)
40 How oft in desert vext they him:
and made him there to moan?
41 Yea, they turn’d, tempted God: and did
stint Isr’el’s holy one.
42 His hand they did not, nor the day
keep in their remembrance:
wherein he from the enemy
gave them deliverance:
43 And how his signs miraculous
in Egypt he had shown:
and his most fearful prodigies
within the field of Zoan:
44 Also how he their rivers had
converted into blood:
and (that they could not drink thereof)
the waters of their flood.
45 Amongst them, which did them devour,
he sent forth divers flies:
and them amongst, which them destroy’d,
he sent forth frogs likewise.
46 He gave their fruit to th’ Caterpillar:
their labour to th’ Locust.
47 He did their Vines destroy with hail:
their Sycamores with frost.
48 Also unto the hail he did
their cattle shut up fast:
likewise their herds of cattle to
the fiery thun’d blast,
49 He cast on them fierce ire, and wrath,
and indignation,
and sore distress: by sending forth
ill Angels them upon.
(7)
50 He made a way unto his wrath,
and their soul did not save
from death: also their life over
to Pestilence he gave,
51 He within Egypt land also
all the first borne did smite:
those that within the tents of Ham
were chiefest of their might:
52 But he made like a flock of sheep
his own folk forth to go:
like to a flock ith wilderness
he guided them also.
53 And he in safety did them lead
so that they did not dread:
within the sea their enemies
he also covered.
54 And to the border he did bring
them of his holy place:
unto this mountain which he did
by his right hand purchase.
55 Fore them he cast the heathen out,
their lot he did divide
by line: and Isr’el’s tribes he made
in their tents to abide.
(8)
56 Yet they tempted the most high God,
and griev’d him bitterly:
also his testimonies they
kept not attentively:
57 But like their fathers back they turn’d
and faithlessness did show:
they turn’d were aside ev’n like
to a deceitful bow.
58 For they to anger did provoke
him with their places high:
and with their graven Images,
mov’d him to jealousy.
59 God hearing this, was wroth, and loath’d
Isr’el with hatred great:
60 So Shiloh’s tent he left: the tent
which men amongst he set,
61 And he delivered his strength
into captivity:
also into the enemies hand
his beautiful glory.
62 To th’ sword he gave his folk: and was
wroth with his heritage.
63 Fire their young men devour’d: their maids
none gave to marriage.
64 Their Priests fell by the sword: also
their widows did not weep.
65 Then did the Lord arise as one
awakened out of sleep:
Like a strong man that after wine
66 doth shout. He also smote
his foes behind: and so he gave
them an eternal blot.
67 Then he did Joseph’s tent refuse:
nor Ephr’ims tribe approv’d.
68 But he the tribe of Judah chose:
mount Sion which he lov’d.
69 And he his Sanctuary built
like unto places high:
like to the earth which he did found
to perpetuity.
70 Of David also his servant
election he did make,
and from the place of folding up
the sheep he did him take.
71 From following the ewes with young
he did him then advance;
to feed Jacob his folk, also
Isr’el his heritance.
72 So he according to his hearts
integrity them fed:
and by the wise discretion
of his hands he them led.