Part 294 (2/2)

And he brought them forth with silver and gold: And there was not one feeble person among his tribes, Egypt was glad when they departed; For the fear of them had fallen upon them.

He spread a cloud for a covering; And fire to give light in the night.

They asked, and he brought quails, And satisfied them with the bread of heaven.

He opened the rock, and waters gushed out; They ran in the dry places like a river.

For he remembered his holy word. {126} And Abraham his servant.

And he brought forth his people with joy, And his chosen with singing.

And he gave them the lands of the nations; And they took the labour of the peoples in possession: That they might keep his statutes, And observe his laws.

Praise ye the Lord.

Praise ye the Lord.

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: For his mercy endureth for ever.

Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord, Or shew forth all his praise?

Blessed are they that keep judgment, And he that doeth righteousness at all times.

Remember me, O Lord, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people; O visit me with thy salvation: That I may see the prosperity of thy chosen, That I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, That I may glory with thine inheritance.

We have sinned with our fathers, We have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.

Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; They remembered not the mult.i.tude of thy mercies; But were rebellious at the sea, even at the Red Sea.

Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, That he might make his mighty power to be known.

He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it was dried up: {127} So he led them through the depths, as through a wilderness.

And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, And redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.

And the waters covered their adversaries: There was not one of them left.

Then believed they his words; They sang his praise.

They soon forgot his works; They waited not for his counsel: But l.u.s.ted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tempted G.o.d in the desert.

And he gave them their request; But sent leanness into their soul.

They envied Moses also in the camp, And Aaron the saint of the Lord.

The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, And covered the company of Abiram.

And a fire was kindled in their company; The flame burned up the wicked.

They made a calf in h.o.r.eb, And wors.h.i.+pped a molten image.

Thus they changed their glory For the likeness of an ox that eateth gra.s.s.

They forgot G.o.d their saviour, Which had done great things in Egypt; Wondrous works in the land of Ham, And terrible things by the Red Sea.

Therefore he said that he would destroy them, Had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, To turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them. {128} Yea, they despised the pleasant land, They believed not his word; But murmured in their tents, And hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord.

Therefore he lifted up his hand unto them, That he would overthrow them in the wilderness: And that he would overthrow them among the nations, And scatter them in the lands.

They joined themselves also unto Baal-peor, And ate the sacrifices of the dead.

Thus they provoked him to anger with their doings; And the plague broke in upon them.

Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: And so the plague was stayed.

And that was counted unto him for righteousness, Unto all generations for evermore.

They angered him also at the waters of Meribah, So that it went ill with Moses for their sakes: Because they were rebellious against his spirit, And he spake unadvisedly with his lips.

They did not destroy the peoples, As the Lord commanded them; But mingled themselves with the nations, And learned their works: And they served their idols; Which became a snare unto them: Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto demons, And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, {129} Whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with blood.

Thus were they defiled with their works, And did very evil in their doings.

Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against this people, And he abhorred his inheritance.

And he gave them into the hand of the nations; And they that hated them ruled over them.

Their enemies also oppressed them, And they were brought into subjection under their hand.

Many times did he deliver them; But they were rebellious in their counsel, And were brought low in their iniquity.

Nevertheless he regarded their distress, When he heard their cry: And he remembered for them his covenant, And repented according to the mult.i.tude of his lovingkindnesses.

He made them also to be pitied Of all those that carried them captive.

Save us, O Lord our G.o.d, And gather us from among the nations, To give thanks unto thy holy name, And to triumph in thy praise.

Blessed be the Lord, the G.o.d of Israel, From everlasting even to everlasting.

<script>