That sitt'st between the Cherubs bright, Shine forth, and from thy cloud give light, 2 In Ephraim's view and Benjamin's, Awake thy strength, come, and be seen To save us by thy might. 3 Turn us again, thy grace divine To us, O God, vouchsafe; Cause thou thy face on us to shine, And then we shall be safe. 4 Lord God of Hosts, how long wilt thou, How long wilt thou declare Thy smoking wrath, and angry brow Against thy people's prayer! 5 Thou feed'st them with the bread of tears, Their bread with tears they eat, And mak'st them largely drink the tears Wherewith their cheeks are wet. 6 A strife thou mak'st us and a prey To every neighbour foe, Among themselves they laugh, they play, And flouts at us they throw. 7 Return us, and thy grace divine, O God of Hosts, vouchsafe, Cause thou thy face on us to shine, And then we shall be safe. 8 A Vine from Egypt thou hast brought, Thy free love made it thine, 5 10 15 20 25 30 And drov'st out nations, proud and haut, To plant this lovely vine. 9 Thou did'st prepare for it a place, And root it deep and fast, And fill'd the land at last. 10 With her green shade that cover'd all, The hills were over-spread, Her boughs as high as cedars tall Advanc'd their lofty head. 11 Her branches on the western side Down to the sea she sent, Her other branches went. 12 Why hast thou laid her hedges low, And broken down her fence, That all may pluck her, as they go, With rudest violence? 13 The tusked boar out of the wood Up turns it by the roots, 35 40 45 50 Wild beasts there brouze, and make their food 55 14 Return now, God of Hosts, look down From Heav'n, thy seat divine, And visit this thy vine. xxvi. 60 Skelton's Magnyfycence, p. xi. Ill and haut.' Barclay's Ship of Fooles, p. 214. 240. 'Strife hatching haut ambition.' Sylvester's Du Bartas, p. 135. 15 Visit this vine, which thy right hand And the young branch, that for thyself 16 But now it is consum'd with fire, 17 Upon the man of thy right hand 18 So shall we not go back from thee Shall call upon thy Name. 19 Return us, and thy grace divine, Lord God of Hosts, vouchsafe; PSALM LXXXI. 1 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, 65 70 75 80 5 The cheerful psaltry bring along, 3 Blow, as is wont, in the new moon With trumpets' lofty sound, Th' appointed time, the day whereon Our solemn feast comes round. 4 This was a statute giv'n of old For Israel to observe, A law of Jacob's God, to hold, From whence they might not swerve. 5 This he a testimony ordain'd In Joseph, not to change, When as he pass'd through Egypt land; 6 From burden, and from slavish toil His hands from pots, and miry soil, 7 When trouble did thee sore assail, Of Meribah renown'd. 8 Hear, O my people, hearken well, I testify to thee, Thou ancient stock of Israel, If thou wilt list to me, 10 15 20 25 30 35 9 Throughout the land of thy abode No alien God shall be, Nor shalt thou to a foreign God In honour bend thy knee. 10 I am the Lord thy God which brought Ask large enough, and I, besought, 11 And yet my people would not hear, And Israel, whom I lov'd so dear, Mislik'd me for his choice. 12 Then did I leave them to their will, And to their wand'ring mind; Their own conceits they follow'd still, Their own devices blind. 13 O that my people would be wise, To serve me all their days, And O that Israel would advise To walk my righteous ways. 14 Then would I soon bring down their foes, That now so proudly rise, And turn my hand against all those That are their enemies. 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 flow'r of finest wheat, |