Psalm 81
John Milton
To God our strength sing loud, and clear, Sing loud to God our King, To Jacobs God, that all may hear Loud acclamations ring. Prepare a Hymn, prepare a Song The Timbrel hither bring The cheerfull Psaltry bring along And Harp with pleasant string. Blow, as is wont, in the new Moon With Trumpets lofty sound, Th’appointed time, the day wheron Our solemn Feast comes round. This was a Statute giv’n of old For Israel to observe A Law of Jacobs God, to hold From whence they might not swerve. This he a Testimony ordain’d In Joseph, not to change, When as he pass’d through Aegypt land; The Tongue I heard, was strange. From burden, and from slavish toyle I set his shoulder free; His hands from pots, and mirie soyle Deliver’d were by me. When trouble did thee sore assaile, On me then didst thou call, And I to free thee did not faile, And led thee out of thrall. I answer’d thee in *thunder deep *Be Sether ragnam. With clouds encompass’d round; I tri’d thee at the water steep Of Meriba renown’d. Hear O my people, heark’n well, I testifie to thee Thou antient flock of Israel, If thou wilt list to mee, Through out the land of thy abode No alien God shall be Nor shalt thou to a forein God In honour bend thy knee. I am the Lord thy God which brought Thee out of Aegypt land Ask large enough, and I, besought, Will grant thy full demand. And yet my people would not hear, Nor hearken to my voice; And Israel whom I lov’d so dear Mislik’d me for his choice. Then did I leave them to their will And to their wandring mind; Their own conceits they follow’d still Their own devises blind O that my people would be wise To serve me all their daies, And O that Israel would advise To walk my righteous waies. Then would I soon bring down their foes That now so proudly rise, And turn my hand against all those That are their enemies. Who hate the Lord should then be fain To bow to him and bend, But they, His should remain, Their time should have no end. And he would free them from the shock With flower of finest wheat, And satisfie them from the rock With Honey for their Meat.
