A New Version of the Psalms of David ‎#218

218. O render Thanks to God above

1 O render Thanks to God above,
The Fountain of eternal Love;
Whose Mercy firm through Ages past
Has stood, and shall for ever last.
2 Who can His mighty Deeds express,
Not only vast, but numberless?
What mortal Eloquence can raise
His Tribute of immortal Praise?

3 Happy are they, and only they,
Who from thy Judgments never stray:
Who know what's right; nor only so,
But always practice what they know.
4 Extend to me that Favour, Lord,
Thou to thy Chosen do'st afford;
When Thou return'st to set them free,
Let thy Salvation visit me.

5 O may I worthy prove to see
Thy Saints in full Prosperity:
That I the joyful Choir may join,
And count thy People's Triumph mine.
6 But ah! can we expect such Grace,
Of Parents vile, the viler Race;
Who their Misdeeds have acted o'er,
And with new Crimes increas'd the Score?

7 Ingrateful, they no longer thought
On all his works in Egypt wrought;
The Red Sea they no sooner view'd,
But they their base Distrust renew'd.
8 Yet he, to vindicate his Name,
Once more to their Deliv'rance came,
To make his sov'reign Pow'r be known,
That he is God, and he alone.

9 To Right and Left, at his Command,
The prating Deep disclos'd her Sand;
Where firm and dry the passage lay,
As through some parch'd and desart Way.
10 Thus rescu'd from their Foes they were,
Who closely press'd upon their Rear,
11 Whose Rage pursu'd 'em to those Waves,
That prov'd the rash Pursuers Graves.

12 The Watry Mountains sudden Fall
O'erwhelm'd proud Pharaoh, Host and all.
This Proof did stupid Isr'el move
To own God's Truth, and praise his Love.

Part II

13 But soon these Wonders they forgot,
And for his Counsel waited not;
14 But lusting in the Wilderness,
Did him with fresh Temptations press.
15 Strong Food at their Request he sent,
But made their Sin their Punishment.
16 Yet still his Saints they did oppose,
The priest and Prophet whom he chose.

17 But Earth, the Quarrel to decide,
Her vengeful Jaws extended wide,
Rash Dathan to her Centre drew,
With proud Abiram's factious Crew.
18 The rest of those who did conspire
To kindle wild Sedition's Fire,
With all their impious Train, became
A Prey to Heav'n's devouring Flame.

19 Near Horeb's Mount, a Calf they made,
And to the molten Image pray'd;
20 Adoring what their hands did frame,
They chang'd their Glory to their Shame.
21 Their God and Saviour they forgot,
And all his works in Egypt wrought;
22 His Signs in Ham's astonish'd Coast,
and where proud Pharaoh's Troops were lost.

23 Thus urg'd, his vengeful Hand he rear'd,
But Moses in the Breach appear'd;
The Saint did for the Rebels pray,
And turn'd Heav'n's kindled Wrath away.
24,25 Yet they his pleasant Land despis'd,
Nor his repeated promise priz'd,
Nor did th' Almighty's Voice obey'
But when God said, Go up, would stay.

26,27 This seal'd their Doom, without Redress
To perish in the Wilderness;
Or else to be by Heathen Hands
O'erthrown and scatter'd thro' the Lands.

Part III

28 Yet unreclaim'd, this stubborn Race
Baal Peor's Worship did embrace;
Became his impious Guests, and fed
On Sacrifices to the Dead.
29 Thus they perished to provoke
God's Vengeance to the final Stroke.
'Tis come:--the deadly Pest is come
To execute their gen'ral Doom

30 But Phineas fir'd with holy Rage,
(Th' Almighty Vengeance to assuage)
Did, by two bold offenders Fall,
Th' Atonement make that ransom'd All.
31 As him a Heav'nly Zeal had mov'd,
So Heav'n the zealous Act approv'd;
To him confirming, and his Race,
The Priesthood he so well did grace.

32 At Meribah God's Wrath they mov'd,
Who Moses for their sakes reprov'd;
33 Whose patient Soul they did provoke,
'Till rashly the meek Prophet spoke.
34 Nor when possess'd of Canaan's land,
Did they perform their Lord's Command,
Nor his commission'd Sword employ
The guilty Nations to destroy.

35 Nor only spar'd the pagan Crew,
But mingling learnt their Vices too;
36 And worship to those Idols paid,
Which them to fatal Snares betray'd.
37,38 To Devils they did sacrifice
Their Children with relentless Eyes;
Approach'd their Altars thro' a Flood
Of their own Sons and Daughters Blood.

No cheaper Victims would appease
Canaan's remorseless Deities;
No Blood her Idols reconcile,
But that which did the Land defile.

Part IV
39 Nor did these savage Cruelties
The hardn'd Reprobates suffice;
For after their Hearts Lusts they went,
And daily did new Crimes invent.
40 But sins of such infernal Hue
God's Wrath against his People drew,
'Till he, their once indulgent Lord,
His own Inheritance abhor'd.

41 He them defenceless did expose
To their insulting heathen Foes;
And made them on the Triumphs wait,
Of those who bare them greatest Hate.
42 Nor thus his Indignation ceas'd;
Their List of Tyrants he increas'd,
'Till they, who God's mild Sway declin'd,
Were made the Vassals of mankind.

43 Yet, when distress'd, they did repent,
His Anger did as oft relent:
But freed, they did his Wrath provoke,
Renew'd their Sins, and he their Yoke.
44 Nor yet implacable he prov'd,
Nor heard their wretched Cries unmov'd;
45 But did to mind his promise bring,
And Mercy's inexhausted Spring.

46 Compassion too he did impart,
Ev'n to their Foes obdurate Heart,
And Pity for their Suff'rings bred
In those who them to Bondage led.
47 Still save us, lord, and Isr'el's Bands
Together bring from Heathen lands;
So to thy Name our Thanks we'll raise,
And ever triumph in thy Praise.

48 Let Isr'el's God be ever bless'd,
His Name eternally confess'd:
Let all His saints, with full Accord,
Sing loud Amen.--Praise ye the Lord.

Text Information

• First Line: O render Thanks to God above
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1754
• Scripture:
  Psalm 106

Tune Information

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