Version of Paraphrase of the Psalm, A - Psalm 68
1.
Let God arise, and let his foes,
His arm unable to oppose,
Back from the field, with wild affright
O'erwhelm'd, precipitate their flight.
2.
Behold, great God, the impious Host
Like smoke in quick dispersion lost:
Behold them, at thy look, expire,
Dissolv'd, as wax before the fire;
3.
While all who own thy just command.
Exulting in thy presence stand,
And bid the shout of triumph rise
Loud echoing to the distant skies.
4.
Your songs for Israel 's God prepare,
Who, seated on his regal Car,
Triumphant o'er the Desert wide
In solemn state is seen to ride:
5.
His name J EHOVAH ; Theme of praise
Exhaustless! — in His presence raise
The grateful strain, and joyous sing
The Mercies of your heav'nly King.
6.
Their Parent Him the Orphans hail;
He bids the Widow's cause prevail,
And, shrin'd above th' empyreal sky,
Extends to All his equal eye;
7.
A mansion to the Outcast gives,
The Captive from his chain relieves;
But bids the Sinner wear away
In barren wilds his shorten'd day.
8.
When o'er the long-extended Waste
Thy Presence before Israel past,
And, beaming o'er thy People's head,
Their Bands to certain conquest led, —
9.
Earth, groaning to its centre, reel'd,
The Heav'ns, in clouds dissolv'd, beheld
The footsteps of th' approaching God,
Ev'n Sinai bow'd with lowly nod.
10.
While yet the burning sands they tread,
Thy kindliest rains, around them shed,
Bespeak them fav'rites of thy care,
And Nature's wearied pow'rs repair.
11.
Thus joy the Tribes whom Thou hast lov'd,
Thus boast their lot by Thee improv'd,
Whose aid the humble and the poor
Shall ne'er with fruitless vows implore.
12.
Heav'n's mighty Monarch gave the word;
His mandate Sion 's Daughters heard,
And thus in one assembled throng
With sweet accordance form the Song:
13.
" Kings with their hosts have fled; and We,
" Who sate from toils of battle free,
" (Content the houshold's care to guide,)
" The Victor's richest spoils divide. "
14.
Again (their form obscur'd awhile
By tasks of servitude and toil,)
Again the Sons of Abraham 's line
Array'd in spotless lustre shine, —
15.
As Doves, while obvious to the Sun
From plume to plume the splendors run,
Their wings in silver dipt unfold,
And necks that glow with living gold.
16.
While back thy foes, O Israel , turn,
Thy God amid thy gloom a morn
Presents, unsullied as the snow
Diffus'd o'er Salmon 's ample brow.
17.
No more, O Basan , vaunt thy height,
That strikes with awe the distant sight;
No more, ye swelling Mountains, rise
In haughty triumph to the skies:
18.
On humbler Sion 's favour'd head.
His tent th' eternal King has spread,
Her sacred Hill his choice confest,
And lasting mansion of his rest.
19.
Ten thousand Cars, and yet again
Ten thousand Cars, in lengthen'd train
Along her hallow'd way proceed,
While God the Pomp vouchsafes to lead, —
20.
Thus Israel views within her shrine
(Blest seat of Majesty divine,)
The scene that erst his Tribes beheld
On Sinai 's mystic top reveal'd.
21.
Admiring Crouds with upcast eye
Have seen thee, Lord, ascend on high:
Behind Thee move a captive Train,
Fast fetter'd with the servile chain.
22.
While gifts through Thee on All below
From Heav'n's high throne transmitted flow,
A Race, who shun'd thy Laws to own,
Thy Presence and thy Aid have known.
23.
To God, our ever-constant Aid,
Be thanks and ceaseless honour paid:
To whom belongs the pow'r to save
His servants from th' expecting grave.
24.
On Him thy wish'd salvation rests;
Him, Israel , praise; whose high behests
Death's dreaded march thro' Earth's domain
To paths by Him prescrib'd restrain.
25.
To Each whose heart rejects his sway,
His terrors shall their guilt repay;
Destruction, with unwearied pace,
Through Sin's dark maze their path shall trace;
26.
Intent on plans of future ill,
His stroke the hairy scalp shall feel;
And share the vengeance, thus aloud
Denounc'd on the rebellious Croud.
27.
" Once more from Basan 's fertile plain,
" Once more from the divided Main
" Thee, Jacob , my resistless hand
" Shall lead; and guard thy chosen Band.
28.
" When foes thy sword presumptuous brave,
" Thy feet the sanguine stream shall lave,
" Thy dogs devour the slaughter'd throng,
" And tinge with impious gore their tongue. "
29.
My God, my King, with joyful view
Thy steps our wond'ring eyes pursue,
As on thou movest to thy shrine
Attended by thy chosen Line.
30.
Before the Singers walk; behind
The Minstrels tread, in concert join'd,
While, in the midst, the Virgin train
Awake the trimbrel's loudest strain.
31.
" Your praises " (thus begins the lay,)
" To Heav'n's eternal Sov'reign pay,
" Ye Tribes that boast your hallow'd Race
" From Israel 's fruitful source to trace. "
32.
Least of that Race, Thou, Benjamin ,
With mightier Judah there art seen,
While Naphthali 's glad Chiefs conspire
With Zebulon to form the choir.
33.
Strong in thy God, O Israel , rise;
And Thou, great Ruler of the Skies,
Thy Work perpetuate; and increase
Thy People's strength by lasting peace.
34.
O let thy grace and boundless love,
Fair Salem 's shrine incircling, move
Assembled Kings her Courts to greet,
And cast their gifts before thy feet.
35.
The Beast, that from his reedy bed
On Nile 's proud bank uplifts the head,
Rebuke, and check the impious band
Who lift to idol Gods the hand;
36.
From whom the Heifer, and the Steer,
The offer'd Vow unconscious hear,
While to the silver's tinkling sound
Their feet in solemn dance rebound.
37.
Their thirst of war, great God, restrain,
And backward drive their scatter'd train:
So, summon'd from her farthest end,
Shall Egypt 's Lords to Salem bend;
38.
So shall Arabia 's fertile land
Extend to Thee the suppliant hand:
The various Realms that Earth divide,
Shall sing to Israel 's God and Guide:
39.
He o'er the skies, in awful state,
From earliest age, exalted sate;
His voice, in frequent thunders giv'n,
Tremendous shakes the vault of Heav'n.
40.
To Him the pow'r ascribe, whose rays
To Jacob 's view conspicuous blaze,
Who downward from th' ethereal height
O'er subject Worlds extends his sight.
41.
What terrors from thy presence flow!
O Thou, of Israel 's foes the Foe,
Whose strength his arm for toil prepares,
And crowns with sure success his wars.
42.
Blest be the name of Israel 's Lord,
The God by Jacob 's sons ador'd,
To Him, till Time shall reach its end,
Let songs of highest praise ascend.
Let God arise, and let his foes,
His arm unable to oppose,
Back from the field, with wild affright
O'erwhelm'd, precipitate their flight.
2.
Behold, great God, the impious Host
Like smoke in quick dispersion lost:
Behold them, at thy look, expire,
Dissolv'd, as wax before the fire;
3.
While all who own thy just command.
Exulting in thy presence stand,
And bid the shout of triumph rise
Loud echoing to the distant skies.
4.
Your songs for Israel 's God prepare,
Who, seated on his regal Car,
Triumphant o'er the Desert wide
In solemn state is seen to ride:
5.
His name J EHOVAH ; Theme of praise
Exhaustless! — in His presence raise
The grateful strain, and joyous sing
The Mercies of your heav'nly King.
6.
Their Parent Him the Orphans hail;
He bids the Widow's cause prevail,
And, shrin'd above th' empyreal sky,
Extends to All his equal eye;
7.
A mansion to the Outcast gives,
The Captive from his chain relieves;
But bids the Sinner wear away
In barren wilds his shorten'd day.
8.
When o'er the long-extended Waste
Thy Presence before Israel past,
And, beaming o'er thy People's head,
Their Bands to certain conquest led, —
9.
Earth, groaning to its centre, reel'd,
The Heav'ns, in clouds dissolv'd, beheld
The footsteps of th' approaching God,
Ev'n Sinai bow'd with lowly nod.
10.
While yet the burning sands they tread,
Thy kindliest rains, around them shed,
Bespeak them fav'rites of thy care,
And Nature's wearied pow'rs repair.
11.
Thus joy the Tribes whom Thou hast lov'd,
Thus boast their lot by Thee improv'd,
Whose aid the humble and the poor
Shall ne'er with fruitless vows implore.
12.
Heav'n's mighty Monarch gave the word;
His mandate Sion 's Daughters heard,
And thus in one assembled throng
With sweet accordance form the Song:
13.
" Kings with their hosts have fled; and We,
" Who sate from toils of battle free,
" (Content the houshold's care to guide,)
" The Victor's richest spoils divide. "
14.
Again (their form obscur'd awhile
By tasks of servitude and toil,)
Again the Sons of Abraham 's line
Array'd in spotless lustre shine, —
15.
As Doves, while obvious to the Sun
From plume to plume the splendors run,
Their wings in silver dipt unfold,
And necks that glow with living gold.
16.
While back thy foes, O Israel , turn,
Thy God amid thy gloom a morn
Presents, unsullied as the snow
Diffus'd o'er Salmon 's ample brow.
17.
No more, O Basan , vaunt thy height,
That strikes with awe the distant sight;
No more, ye swelling Mountains, rise
In haughty triumph to the skies:
18.
On humbler Sion 's favour'd head.
His tent th' eternal King has spread,
Her sacred Hill his choice confest,
And lasting mansion of his rest.
19.
Ten thousand Cars, and yet again
Ten thousand Cars, in lengthen'd train
Along her hallow'd way proceed,
While God the Pomp vouchsafes to lead, —
20.
Thus Israel views within her shrine
(Blest seat of Majesty divine,)
The scene that erst his Tribes beheld
On Sinai 's mystic top reveal'd.
21.
Admiring Crouds with upcast eye
Have seen thee, Lord, ascend on high:
Behind Thee move a captive Train,
Fast fetter'd with the servile chain.
22.
While gifts through Thee on All below
From Heav'n's high throne transmitted flow,
A Race, who shun'd thy Laws to own,
Thy Presence and thy Aid have known.
23.
To God, our ever-constant Aid,
Be thanks and ceaseless honour paid:
To whom belongs the pow'r to save
His servants from th' expecting grave.
24.
On Him thy wish'd salvation rests;
Him, Israel , praise; whose high behests
Death's dreaded march thro' Earth's domain
To paths by Him prescrib'd restrain.
25.
To Each whose heart rejects his sway,
His terrors shall their guilt repay;
Destruction, with unwearied pace,
Through Sin's dark maze their path shall trace;
26.
Intent on plans of future ill,
His stroke the hairy scalp shall feel;
And share the vengeance, thus aloud
Denounc'd on the rebellious Croud.
27.
" Once more from Basan 's fertile plain,
" Once more from the divided Main
" Thee, Jacob , my resistless hand
" Shall lead; and guard thy chosen Band.
28.
" When foes thy sword presumptuous brave,
" Thy feet the sanguine stream shall lave,
" Thy dogs devour the slaughter'd throng,
" And tinge with impious gore their tongue. "
29.
My God, my King, with joyful view
Thy steps our wond'ring eyes pursue,
As on thou movest to thy shrine
Attended by thy chosen Line.
30.
Before the Singers walk; behind
The Minstrels tread, in concert join'd,
While, in the midst, the Virgin train
Awake the trimbrel's loudest strain.
31.
" Your praises " (thus begins the lay,)
" To Heav'n's eternal Sov'reign pay,
" Ye Tribes that boast your hallow'd Race
" From Israel 's fruitful source to trace. "
32.
Least of that Race, Thou, Benjamin ,
With mightier Judah there art seen,
While Naphthali 's glad Chiefs conspire
With Zebulon to form the choir.
33.
Strong in thy God, O Israel , rise;
And Thou, great Ruler of the Skies,
Thy Work perpetuate; and increase
Thy People's strength by lasting peace.
34.
O let thy grace and boundless love,
Fair Salem 's shrine incircling, move
Assembled Kings her Courts to greet,
And cast their gifts before thy feet.
35.
The Beast, that from his reedy bed
On Nile 's proud bank uplifts the head,
Rebuke, and check the impious band
Who lift to idol Gods the hand;
36.
From whom the Heifer, and the Steer,
The offer'd Vow unconscious hear,
While to the silver's tinkling sound
Their feet in solemn dance rebound.
37.
Their thirst of war, great God, restrain,
And backward drive their scatter'd train:
So, summon'd from her farthest end,
Shall Egypt 's Lords to Salem bend;
38.
So shall Arabia 's fertile land
Extend to Thee the suppliant hand:
The various Realms that Earth divide,
Shall sing to Israel 's God and Guide:
39.
He o'er the skies, in awful state,
From earliest age, exalted sate;
His voice, in frequent thunders giv'n,
Tremendous shakes the vault of Heav'n.
40.
To Him the pow'r ascribe, whose rays
To Jacob 's view conspicuous blaze,
Who downward from th' ethereal height
O'er subject Worlds extends his sight.
41.
What terrors from thy presence flow!
O Thou, of Israel 's foes the Foe,
Whose strength his arm for toil prepares,
And crowns with sure success his wars.
42.
Blest be the name of Israel 's Lord,
The God by Jacob 's sons ador'd,
To Him, till Time shall reach its end,
Let songs of highest praise ascend.
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