The Psalms of David in Metre

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Psalm 105

This psalm was a part of the solemn hymn sung at the translation of the ark from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David, 1Chron. 16; and contains, (1.) Solemn calls to meditate on, seek, magnify, and praise God, who is so great, so gracious, and so nearly connected with us, ver. 1-7. (2.) A narrative of the particular mercies of God to Israel for the space of 480 years, as grounds of praise: Particularly, his covenant with their patriarchs, ver. 8-11; his care of them, while strangers and sojourners, ver. 12-15; his advancement of Joseph, to be the shepherd and stone of Israel, ver. 16-22; his increasing of them in Egypt, and at last delivering them from it, in the way of inflicting manifold plagues on the Egyptians, ver. 23-38; and his care of them in the wilderness, and setting them in Canaan, as a peculiar people to himself, ver. 39-45.

While I sing, let my soul, with affecting wonder, think what God is to me; and what he hath done for me, and for his church, in prosecution of his covenant engagements with Jesus Christ.

1 Give thanks to God, call on his name;
to men his deeds make known.
2 Sing ye to him, sing psalms; proclaim
his wondrous works each one.

3 See that ye in his holy name
to glory do accord;
And let the heart of ev’ry one
rejoice that seeks the Lord.

4 The Lord Almighty, and his strength,
with steadfast hearts seek ye:
His bless-ed and his gracious face
seek ye continually.

5 Think on the works that he hath done,
which admiration breed;
His wonders, and the judgments all
which from his mouth proceed;

6 O ye that are of Abr’ham’s race,
his servant well approv’n;
And ye that Jacob’s children are,
whom he chose for his own.

7 Because he, and he only, is
the mighty Lord our God;
And his most righteous judgments are
in all the earth abroad.

8 His cov’nant he remembered hath,
that it may ever stand:
To thousand generations
the word he did command.

9 Which covenant he firmly made
with faithful Abraham,
And unto Isaac, by his oath,
he did renew the same:

10 And unto Jacob, for a law,
he made it firm and sure,
A covenant to Israel,
which ever should endure.

11 He said, I’ll give Canaan’s land
for heritage to you;
12 While they were strangers there, and few,
in number very few:

13 While yet they went from land to land
without a sure abode;
And while through sundry kingdoms they
did wander far abroad;

14 Yet, notwithstanding suffered he
no man to do them wrong:
Yea, for their sakes, he did reprove
kings, who were great and strong.

15 Thus did he say, Touch ye not those
that mine anointed be,
Nor do the prophets any harm
that do pertain to me.

16 He called for famine on the land,
he brake the staff of bread:
17 But yet he sent a man before,
by whom they should be fed;

Ev’n Joseph, whom unnat’rally
sell for a slave did they;
18 Whose feet with fetters they did hurt,
and he in irons lay;

19 Until the time that his word came
to give him liberty;
The word and purpose of the Lord
did him in prison try.

20 Then sent the king, and did command
that he enlarged should be:
He that the people’s ruler was
did send to set him free.

21 A lord to rule his family
he raised him, as most fit;
To him of all that he possessed
he did the charge commit:

22 That he might at his pleasure bind
the princes of the land;
And he might teach his senators
wisdom to understand.

23 The people then of Israel
down into Egypt came;
And Jacob also sojourned
within the land of Ham.

24 And he did greatly by his pow’r
increase his people there;
And stronger than their enemies
they by his blessing were.

25 Their heart he turned to envy
his folk maliciously,
With those that his own servants were
to deal in subtlety.

26 His servant Moses he did send,
Aaron his chosen one.
27 By these his signs and wonders great
in Ham’s land were made known.

28 Darkness he sent, and made it dark;
his word they did obey.
29 He turned their waters into blood,
and he their fish did slay.

30 The land in plenty brought forth frogs
in chambers of their kings.
31 His word all sorts of flies and lice
in all their borders brings.

32 He hail for rain, and flaming fire
into their land he sent:
33 And he their vines and fig-trees smote:
trees of their coasts he rent.

34 He spake, and caterpillars came,
locusts did much abound;
35 Which in their land all herbs consumed,
and all fruits of their ground.

36 He smote all first-born in their land,
chief of their strength each one.
37 With gold and silver brought them forth,
weak in their tribes were none.

38 Egypt was glad when forth they went,
their fear on them did light.
39 He spread a cloud for covering,
and fire to shine by night.

40 They asked, and he brought quails: with bread
of heav’n he fill-ed them.
41 He opened rocks, floods gushed, and ran
in deserts like a stream.

42 For on his holy promise he,
and servant Abr’ham, thought.
43 With joy his people, his elect
with gladness, forth he brought.

44 And unto them the pleasant lands
he of the heathen gave;
That of the people’s labor they
inheritance might have.

45 That they his statutes might observe
according to his word;
And that they might his laws obey.
Give praise unto the Lord.