Psalm 105 (Tate & Brady)

1 O render thanks, and bless the Lord;

invoke his sacred Name;

Acquaint the nations with his deeds,

his matchless deeds proclaim.

2 Sing to his praise, in lofty hymns

his wondrous works rehearse;

Make them the theme of your discourse,

and subject of your verse.

3 Rejoice in his Almighty Name,

alone to be adored;

And let their heart o'erflow with joy

that humbly seek the Lord.

4 Seek ye the Lord, his saving strength

devoutly still implore;

And, where he's ever present, seek

his face for evermore.

5 The wonders that his hands have wrought

keep thankfully in mind;

The righteous statutes of his mouth,

and laws to us assigned.

6 Know ye, his servant Abr'am's seed,

and Jacob's chosen race;

7 He's still our God, his judgments still

throughout the earth take place.

8 His cov'nant he hath kept in mind

for num'rous ages past;

Which yet for thousand ages more

in equal force shall last.

9 First signed to Abr'am, next by oath

to Isaac made secure;

10 To Jacob and his heirs a law

for ever to endure.

11 That Canaan's land should be their lot,

when yet but few they were;

12 But few in number, and those few

all friendless strangers there.

13 In pilgrimage from realm to realm

securely they removed;

14 Whilst proudest monarchs for their sakes

severely he reproved.

15 "These mine anointed are, (Said he,)

let none my servants wrong;"

"Nor treat the poorest prophet ill,

that does to me belong."

16 A dearth at last, by his command,

did through the land prevail;

Till corn, the chief support of life,

sustaining corn did fail.

17 But his indulgent providence

had pious Joseph sent,

Sold into Egypt, but their death

who sold him to prevent.

18 His feet with heavy chains were crushed,

with calumny his fame;

19 Till God's appointed time and word

to his deliv'rance came.

20 The king his sov'reign orders sent,

and rescued him with speed;

Whom private malice had confined,

the people's ruler freed.

21 His court, revenues, realm, were all

subjected to his will;

22 His greatest princes to control,

and teach his statesmen skill,

The Second Part.

23 To Egypt then, invited guests,

half-famished Israel came;

And Jacob held, by royal grant,

the fertile soil of Ham.

24 Th' Almighty there with such increasd

his people multiplied,

Till with their proud oppressors they

in strength and number vied.

25 Their vast increase th' Egyptians' hearts

with jealous anger fired,

Till they his servants to destroy

by treach'rous arts conspired.

26 His servant Moses then he sent,

his chosen Aaron too;

27 Empow'red with signs and miracles

to prove their mission true.

28 He called for darkness, darkness came;

nature his summons knew;

29 Each stream and lake, transformed to blood,

the wand'ring fishes slew.

30 In putrid floods, throughout the land,

the pest of frogs was bred;

From noisome fens sent up to croak

at Pharaoh's board and bed.

31 He gave the sign, and swarms of flies

came down in cloudy hosts,

Whilst earth's enlivened dust below

bred lice through all their coasts.

32 He sent them batt'ring hail for rain,

and fire for cooling dew;

33 He smote their vines and forest plants,

and garden's pride o'erthrew.

34 He spake the word, and locusts came,

with caterpillars joined;

They preyed upon the poor remains

the storm had left behind.

35 From trees to herbage they descend,

no verdant thing they spare;

But, like the naked fallow field,

leave all the pastures bare.

36 From fields to villages and towns

commissioned vengeance flew;

One fatal stroke their eldest hopes

and strength of Egypt slew.

37 He brought his servants forth, enriched

with Egypt's borrowed wealth;

And, what transcends all treasures else,

enriched with vig'rous health.

38 Egypt rejoiced, in hopes to find

her plagues with them removed;

Taught dearly now to fear worse ills

by those already proved.

39 Their shrouding canopy by day

a journeying cloud was spread;

A fiery pillar all the night

the desert marches led.

40 They longed for flesh; with ev'ning quails

he furnished ev'ry tent;

From heav'n's own granary, each morn,

the bread of angels sent.

41 He smote the rock, whose flinty breast

poured forth a gushing tide;

Whose flowing streams, where'er they marched,

the desert's drought supplied.

42 For still he did on Abr'am's faith

an ancient league reflect;

43 He brought his people forth with joy,

with triumph his elect.

44 Quite rooting out their heathen foes

from Canaan's fertile soil,

To them in cheap possession gave

the knit of others' toil.

45 That they his statutes might observe,

his sacred laws obey;

For benefits so vast let us

our songs of praise repay.