Psalm 78 (Version 4, Part 4)

Great God, how oft did Israel prove

By turns thine anger and thy love!

There in a glass our hearts may see

How fickle and how false they be.

How soon the faithless Jews forgot

The dreadful wonders God had wrought!

Then they provoke him to his face,

Nor fear his power, nor trust his grace.

The Lord consum'd their years in pain,

And made their travels long and vain;

A tedious march thro' unknown ways

Wore out their strength and spent their days.

Oft when they saw their brethren slain,

They mourn'd and sought the Lord again;

Call'd him the Rock of their abode,

Their high Redeemer and their God.

Their prayers and vows before him rise

As flattering words or solemn lies,

While their rebellious tempers prove

False to his covenant and his love.

Yet did his sovereign grace forgive

The men who not deserv'd to live;

His anger oft away he turn'd,

Or else with gentle flame it burn'd.

He saw their flesh was weak and frail,

He saw temptation still prevail

The God of Abraham lov'd them still,

And led them to his holy hill.