Give praise and thanks unto the Lord

Verse 1

Give praise and thanks unto the Lord, for bountiful is he; His tender mercy doth endure unto eternity.

Verse 2

God's mighty works who can express? or show forth all his praise?

Verse 3

Blessèd are they that judgment keep, and justly do always.

Verse 4

Remember me, Lord, with that love which thou to thine dost bear; With thy salvation, O my God, to visit me draw near:

Verse 5

That I thy chosen's good may see, and in their joy rejoice; And may with thine inheritance triumph with cheerful voice.

Verse 6

We with our fathers sinnèd have, and of iniquity Too long we have the workers been; we have done wickedly.

Verse 7

The wonders great, which thou, O Lord, didst work in Egypt land, Our fathers, though they saw, yet them they did not understand: And they thy mercies' multitude kept not in memory; But at the sea, ev'n the Red Sea, provoked him grievously.

Verse 8

Nevertheless he savèd them, ev'n for his own name's sake; That so he might to be well known his mighty power make.

Verse 9

When he the Red Sea did rebuke, then drièd up it was: Through depths, as through the wilderness, he safely made them pass.

Verse 10

From hands of those that hated them he did his people save; And from the en'my's cruel hand to them redemption gave.

Verse 11

The waters overwhelmed their foes; not one was left alive.

Verse 12

Then they believed his word, and praise to him in songs did give.

Verse 13

But soon did they his mighty works forget unthankfully, And on his counsel and his will did not wait patiently;

Verse 14

But much did lust in wilderness, and God in desert tempt.

Verse 15

He gave them what they sought, but to their soul he leanness sent.

Verse 16

And against Moses in the camp their envy did appear; At Aaron they, the saint of God, envious also were.

Verse 17

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

Verse 18

Likewise among their company a fire was kindled then; And so the hot consuming flame burnt up these wicked men.

Verse 19

Upon the hill of Horeb they an idol-calf did frame, A molten image they did make, and worshippèd the same.

Verse 20

And thus their glory, and their God, most vainly changèd they Into the likeness of an ox that eateth grass or hay.

Verse 21

They did forget the mighty God, that had their savior been, By whom such great things brought to pass they had in Egypt seen.

Verse 22

In Ham's land he did wondrous works, things terrible did he, When he his mighty hand and arm stretched out at the Red sea.

Verse 23

Then said he, He would them destroy, had not, his wrath to stay, His chosen Moses stood in breach, that them he should not slay.

Verse 24

Yea, they despised the pleasant land, believèd not his word:

Verse 25

But in their tents they murmurèd, not heark'ning to the Lord.

Verse 26

Therefore in desert them to slay he lifted up his hand:

Verse 27

'Mong nations to o'erthrow their seed, and scatter in each land.

Verse 28

They unto Baal-peor did themselves associate; The sacrifices of the dead they did profanely eat.

Verse 29

Thus, by their lewd invëntions, they did provoke his ire; And then upon them suddenly the plague brake in as fire.

Verse 30

Then Phin'has rose, and justice did, and so the plague did cease;

Verse 31

That to all ages counted was to him for righteousness.

Verse 32

And at the waters, where they strove, they did him angry make, In such sort, that it farèd ill with Moses for their sake:

Verse 33

Because they there his spirit meek provokèd bitterly, So that he uttered with his lips words unadvisedly.

Verse 34

Nor, as the Lord commanded them, did they the nations slay:

Verse 35

But with the heathen mingled were, and learned of them their way.

Verse 36

And they their idols served, which did a snare unto them turn.

Verse 37

Their sons and daughters they to dev'ls in sacrifice did burn.

Verse 38

In their own children's guiltless blood their hands they did imbrue, Whom to Cänaan's idols they for sacrifices slew: So was the land defiled with blood.

Verse 39

They stained with their own way, And with their own invëntions a whoring they did stray.

Verse 40

Against his people kindled was the wrath of God therefore, Insomuch that he did his own inheritance abhor.

Verse 41

He gave them to the heathen's hand; their foes did them command.

Verse 42

Their en'mies them oppressed, they were made subject to their hand.

Verse 43

He many times delivered them; but with their counsel so They him provoked, that for their sin they were brought very low.

Verse 44

Yet their affliction he beheld, when he did hear their cry:

Verse 45

And he for them his covenant did call to memory;

Verse 46

After his mercies' multitude he did repent: And made Them to be pitied of all those who did them captive lead.

Verse 47

O Lord our God, us save, and gather the heathen from among, That we thy holy name may praise in a triumphant song.

Verse 48

Blessed be JEHOVAH, Isr'el's God, to all eternity: Let all the people say, Amen. Praise to the Lord give ye.