Part 13 (1/2)

A damsel, two damsels to every man; To Sisera a spoil of divers colours, A spoil of divers colours of embroidery, Of divers colours of embroidery on both sides, on the necks of the spoil!”

_Tutti._ So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: But let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might!

V

DAVID'S LAMENT

Thy glory, O Israel, Is slain upon thy high places!

How are the mighty-- Fallen!

Tell it not in Gath, Publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncirc.u.mcised triumph.

Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew nor rain upon you, Neither fields of offerings: For there the s.h.i.+eld of the mighty was vilely cast away, The s.h.i.+eld of Saul, as of one not anointed with oil.

From the blood of the slain, From the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan turned not back, And the sword of Saul returned not empty.

Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, And in their death they were not divided; They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions.

Ye daughters of Israel, Weep over Saul, Who clothed you in scarlet delicately, Who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

How are the mighty-- Fallen in the midst of the battle!

O Jonathan, Slain upon thy high places,

I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: Very pleasant hast thou been unto me: Thy love to me was wonderful, Pa.s.sing the love of women.

How are the mighty-- Fallen!

And the weapons of war-- Perished!

VI

DAVID'S SONG OF VICTORY

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine; The G.o.d of my rock, in him will I trust; My s.h.i.+eld, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge; My saviour, thou savest me from violence.

I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from mine enemies.

For the waves of death compa.s.sed me, The floods of unG.o.dliness made me afraid.

The cords of Sheol were round about me: The snares of death came upon me.

In my distress I called upon the LORD, Yea, I called unto my G.o.d: And he heard my voice out of his temple, And my cry came into his ears.

Then the earth shook and trembled, The foundations of heaven moved And were shaken, because he was wroth.

There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, And fire out of his mouth devoured: Coals were kindled by it.

He bowed the heavens also, and came down; And thick darkness was under his feet.

And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: Yea, he was seen upon the wings of the wind.

And he made darkness pavilions round about him, Gathering of waters, thick clouds of the skies.

At the brightness before him coals of fire were kindled The LORD thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered his voice.

And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; Lightning, and discomfited them.

Then the channels of the sea appeared, The foundations of the world were laid bare, By the rebuke of the LORD, At the blast of the breath of his nostrils He sent from on high, he took me; He drew me out of many waters; He delivered me from my strong enemy, From them that hated me; For they were too mighty for me.

They came upon me in the day of my calamity: But the LORD was my stay.

He brought me forth also into a large place: He delivered me, because he delighted in me.

The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: According to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.