Confitemini Dom.

Verse 1

Praise ye the Lord, for he is good, his mercy lasts alway: Who can express his noble acts, or all his praise display?

Verse 2

They blessed are that judgement keep, and justly do alway: With favour of thy people, Lord, remember me, I pray;

Verse 3

And with thy saving health, O Lord, vouchsafe to visit me, That I the great felicity of thine elect may see;

Verse 4

And with thy people's joy I may a joyful mind possess, And may with thine inheritance a cheerful heart express.

Verse 5

Both we and our forefathers all, have sinned every one; We have committed wickedness, and very lewdly done.

Verse 6

The wonders great which thou, O Lord, hast done in Egypt land Our fathers though they saw them all yet did not understand.

Verse 7

Nor yet thy mercies manifold did keep in memory; But at the sea, yea, the Red-sea, rebell'd ungratefully.

Verse 8

Nevertheless he saved them for honour of his Name; That he might make his power known, and spread abroad his fame.

Verse 9

The Red-sea he did then rebuke, and forthwith it was dry'd; As in the wilderness, so through the deep he did them guide.

Verse 10

He sav'd them from the cruel hand of their most spiteful foe, And from their enemies he did deliver them also.

Verse 11

The waters did them overthrow, not one was left alive: Then they believ'd his word, and praise in song they did him give.

Verse 12

But very soon ungratefully his works they quite forgat, And for his counsel and his will they did neglect to wait:

Verse 13

But sinned in the wilderness with fond and greedy lust, And in the desart tempted God, their only stay and trust.

Verse 14

Who all their wanton minds' desire did suffer them to have; But wasting leanness therewithal into their souls be gave.

Verse 15

Then when they lodged in their tents, at Moses they did grutch; Aaron the holy of the Lord they also envy'd much.

Verse 16

Therefore the earth did open wide, and Dathan did devour, And all Abiram's company did cover in that hour.

Verse 17

In their assembly kindled was a hot consuming fire, And wasting flame did then burn up the wicked in his ire.

Verse 18

Upon the Hill of Horeb they an idol calf did frame, And there the molten image they did worship of the same.

Verse 19

Thus to the likeness of a calf, which feedeth on the grass, They turned all their glory, and their honour did deface;

Verse 20

And God their only Saviour they unthankfully forgot, Who many great and mighty things in Egypt's land had wrought;

Verse 21

And in the land of Ham for them most wond'rous works had done, And by the Red-sea dreadful things performed long agone.

Verse 22

Therefore because they shew'd themselves forgetful and unkind, To bring destruction on them all he purpos'd in his mind,

Verse 23

Had not his chosen Moses stood before him in the way, To turn away his wrath, lest he should them destroy and slay.

Verse 24

They did despise the pleasant land, that he to them did give, Yea, and the words that he had spoke they did no whit believe;

Verse 25

But in their tents with grudging heart they wickedly repin'd, Nor to the voice of God the Lord did give an heark'ning mind.

Verse 26

Therefore against them lifted he his strong revenging hand, Them to destroy in wilderness, before they saw the land;

Verse 27

And to destroy their seed among the nations with his rod, And through the kingdoms of the world to scatter them abroad.

Verse 28

To Baal-peor they did join themselves most wickedly, The sacrifices of the dead eating most greedily.

Verse 29

Thus they with their inventions did his anger much provoke; And in his sore enkindled wrath the plague upon them broke.

Verse 30

But Phineas stood up with zeal the sinners vile to slay; And judgment he did execute, and then the plague did stay.

Verse 31

It was imputed unto him for righteousness that day, And from thenceforth so counted is from race to race alway.

Verse 32

At waters called Meribah they did him angry make; Yea, so far forth that Moses then was punish'd for their sake.

Verse 33

Because they vex'd his spirit so, that in impatient heat His lips spake unadvisedly, his fervour was so great.

Verse 34

Nor as the Lord commanded them, did they the people slay; But were among the heathen mix'd, and learn'd their wicked way;

Verse 35

They did their idols serve which was their ruin and decay, To Devils sons and daughters did they offer up and slay.

Verse 36

Yea, with unkind and murd'ring knife the guiltless blood they spilt, Ev'n their own sons and daughters blood without all cause of guilt;

Verse 37

Whom they to Canaan's idols then offer'd with wicked hand, And so with blood of innocents defiled was the land.

Verse 38

Thus they were stained with the works of their own filthy way, And with their own inventions did a whoring go astray.

Verse 39

Therefore against his people was his anger kindled sore, And ev'n his own inheritance he did abhor therefore.

Verse 40

Into the hands of heathen men he gave them for a prey; And made their foes their lords, whom they were forced to obey.

Verse 41

Yea, and their hateful enemies oppress'd them in their land, And they were humbly made to stoop, as subjects to their hand.

Verse 42

Full oftentimes from thrall had he deliver'd them before; But they rebell'd against him, and provok'd him evermore.

Verse 43

Therefore they by their wickedness were brought full low to lie: Yet when he saw them in distress, he heark'ned to their cry;

Verse 44

He call'd to mind his covenant, which he to them had swore, And by his mercies multitude repented him therefore:

Verse 45

And favour he them made to find before the sight of those, That led them captive from their land, though they had been their foes.

Verse 46

Save us, O Lord, that art our God, we do thee humbly pray, And from among the heathen folk, Lord, gather us away;

Verse 47

That we may triumph and rejoice in thy most holy Name, That we may glory in thy praise, and sounding of thy fame.

Verse 48

The Lord the God of Israel be blessed evermore: Let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord therefore.