Attendite populi. Ps.78.T.S.

He showeth how God of his mercy chose his Church of the posterity of Abraham, casting in their teeth the rebellion of their fathers, that their children might acknowledge God’s free mercies, and be ashamed of their perverse ancestors. The holy Ghost hath comprehended as it were the sum of all God’s benefits, that the gross people might see in few words the effect of the whole history.

The first part (Psalm 78) The second part (Psalm 78)
Attend my people to my Law,
and to my words incline.
 
2 My mouth shall speak strange parables,
and sentences divine.
 
3 Which we ourselves have heard and
learned,
even of our Fathers old,
and which for our instruction
our Fathers have us told.
 
4 Because we should not keep it close,
from them that should come after:
Who should God’s power to their race praise,
and all his works of wonder.
 
5 To Jacob he commandment gave,
how Israel should live:
Willing our Fathers should the same
unto their children give.
 
6 That they and their posterity,
which were not sprung up though:
Should have the knowledge of the law,
and teach their seed also.
 
7 That they may have the better hope
in God that is above,
And not forget to keep his laws
and his precepts in love.
 
8 Not being as our Fathers were,
rebelling in God’s sight,
And would not frame their wicked hearts
to know their God aright.
 
9 How went the people of Ephraim
their neighbors for to spoil:
Shooting their darts the day of war,
and yet they took the foil?
 
10 For why they did not keep with God,
the covenant that was made:
Nor yet would walk or lead their lives,
according to his trade.
 
11 But put into oblivion,
his counsel and his will,
And all his works most magnifique,
Which he declared still.
12 What wonders to our forefathers,
did he himself disclose:
in Egypt land within the field,
that called is Thaneos?
 
13 He did divide and cut the sea,
that they might pass at once:
And made the water stand as still,
as doth an heap of stones.
 
14 He led them secret in a cloud
by day, when it was bright:
And in the night when dark it was,
with fire he gave them light.
 
15 He break the rock in wilderness,
and gave the people drink,
As plentiful as when the deeps
do flow up to the brink.
 
16 He drew out rivers out of rocks,
that were both dry and hard:
Of such abundance that no floods,
to them might be compared.
 
17 Yet for all this against the Lord,
their sin they did increase:
And stirred him that is most high,
to wrath in wilderness.
 
18 They tempted him within their hearts,
like people of mistrust:
Requiring such a kind of meat,
as served to their lust.
 
19 Saying with murmuration,
in their unfaithfulness,
What? can this God prepare for us,
a feast in wilderness?
 
20 Behold he strake the stony rock,
and floods forthwith did flow:
But can he now give to his folk,
both bread and flesh also?
 
21 When God heard this he waxed wrath,
with Jacob and his seed,
So did his indignation
on Israel proceed.
The third part (Psalm 78) The fourth part (Psalm 78)
22 Because they did not faithfully
believe, and hope that he
Could always help and succor them
in their necessity.
 
23 Wherefore he did command the clouds,
forthwith they break in sunder:
 
24 And rained down Manna for them to eat,
a food of mickle wonder.
 
25 When earthly men with Angel’s food,
were fed at their request:
 
26 He bade the East wind blow away,
and brought in the Southwest.
 
27 And rained down flesh as thick as dust,
and fowl as thick as sand:
 
28 Which he did cast amidst the place,
where all the tents did stand.
 
29 Then did they eat exceedingly,
and all men had their fills,
Yet more and more they did desire,
to serve their lusts and wills.
 
30 But as the meat was in their mouths,
his wrath upon them fell:
 
31 And slew the flower of all their youth,
and choice of Israel.
 
32 Yet fell they to their wonted sin,
and still they did him grieve,
For all the wonders that he wrought,
they would him not believe.
 
33 Their days therefore he shortened,
and made their honor vain:
Their years did waste and pass away,
with terror and with pain.
 
34 But ever when he plagued them,
they sought him by and by:
 
35 Remembering then he was their strength,
their help and God most high.
 
36 Though in their mouths they did but gloss,
and flatter with the Lord:
And with their tongues and in their hearts,
dissembled every word.
37 For why? their hearts were nothing bent
to him, nor to his trade:
Nor yet to keep, nor to perform
the covenant that was made.
 
38 Yet was he still so merciful,
When they deserved to die:
That he forgave them their misdeeds:
and would not them destroy.
Yea many a time he turned his wrath,
and did himself advise:
And would not suffer all his whole
displeasure to arise.
 
39 Considering that they were but flesh,
and even as a wind,
That passeth away and cannot well
return by his own kind.
 
40 How oftentimes in wilderness,
did they the Lord provoke?
How did they move and stir the Lord,
to plague them with his stroke?
 
41 Yet did they turn again to sin,
and tempted God est-soon:
Prescribing to the holy Lord,
what things they would have done.
 
42 Not thinking of his hand and power,
nor of the day when he
Delivered them out of the hands,
of the fierce enemy.
 
43 Nor how he wrought his miracles,
as they themselves beheld
In Egypt and the wonders that
he did in Zoan field.
 
44 Nor how he turned by his power,
their waters into blood,
That no man might receive his drink
at river nor at flood.
 
45 Nor how he sent them swarms of flies,
which did them sore annoy.
And filled their country full of frogs,
which did their land destroy.
The fifth part (Psalm 78) The sixth part (Psalm 78)
46 Nor how he did commit their fruits
unto the Caterpillar:
And all the labor of their hands,
he gave to the Grasshopper.
 
47 With hailstones he destroyed their vines,
so that they were all lost:
And not so much as wild fig trees,
but he consumed with frost.
 
48 And yet with hailstones once again,
the Lord their cattle smote.
And all their flocks and herds likewise,
with thunder-bolts full hot.
 
49 He cast upon them in his ire,
and in his fury strong:
Displeasure, wrath, and evil spirits,
to trouble them among.
 
50 Then to his wrath he made a way,
and spared not the least:
But gave unto the pestilence,
the man and eke the beast.
 
51 He struck also the firstborn all,
that up in Egypt came:
And all the chief of men and beasts,
within the tents of Ham.
 
52 But as for all his own dear folk,
he did preserve and keep,
And carried them through wilderness,
even like a flock of sheep.
 
53 Without all fear, both safe and sound,
he brought them out of thrall:
Whereas their foes with rage of seas
were overwhelmed all.
 
54 And brought them out into the coasts,
of his own holy land:
Even to the mount which he had got,
by his strong arm and hand.
 
55 And there cast out the heathen folk,
and did the land divide:
And in their tents he set the tribes
of Israel to abide.
 
56 Yet for all this their God most high,
they stirred and tempted still:
And would not keep his testament
nor yet obey his will.
 
57 But as their fathers turned back,
even so they went astray:
Much like a bow that will not bend:
but slip and start away.
58 And grieveth him with their hill altars,
with offerings and with fire:
And with their idols vehemently
provoked him to ire.
 
59 Therewith his wrath began again:
to kindle in his breast:
The naughtiness of Israel,
he did so much detest.
 
60 Then he forsook the tabernacle
of Shiloh, where he was
Right conversant with earthly men,
even as his dwelling place.
 
61 Then suffered he his might and power,
in bondage for to stand:
And gave the honor of his Ark,
into his enemy’s hand.
 
62 And did commit them to the sword,
wroth with his heritage:
 
63 The young men were devoured with fire
maids had no marriage.
 
64 And with the sword the Priests also,
did perish everyone:
And not a widow left alive,
their death for to bemoan.
 
65 And then the Lord began to wake,
like one that slept a time:
And as a valiant man of war,
refreshed after wine.
 
66 With Emerods in their hinder parts,
he struck his enemies all:
And put them then unto a shame,
that was perpetual.
 
67 Then he the tent and Tabernacle,
of Joseph did refuse:
As for the tribe of Ephraim,
he would in no wise choose.
 
68 But chose the tribe of Judah,
whereas he thought to dwell:
Even the noble mount Zion,
which he did love so well.
 
69 Whereas he did his temple build,
both sumptuously and sure:
Like as the earth, which he hath made
for ever to endure.
 
70 Then chose he David him to serve,
his people for to keep:
Whom he took up and brought away,
even from the folds of sheep.
 
71 As he did follow the Ewes with young,
the Lord did him advance:
To feed his people Israel,
and his inheritance.
 
72 Then David with a faithful heart,
his flock and charge did feed:
And prudently with all his power,
did govern them indeed.

THE BOOK OF PSALMS

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