37 Not right with their God in heart and in will,
they faithlessly broke his covenant still;
but he, in compassion, reluctant to slay,
forgave them and oft turned his anger away.
38 His pity was great, though often they sinned,
39 for they were but flesh, a swift passing wind;
40 yet though his compassion and grace they beheld,
they tempted and grieved him and often rebelled.
41 They limited God, the Most Holy One,
and hindered the work his grace had begun;
42 the hand that was mighty to save they forgot,
the day of redemption remembering not.
43 Ungrateful and blind, no longer they thought
of wonders and signs and mighty deeds wrought,
44 Of how all the rivers of Egypt ran red,
45-50 and plagues in God’s anger were heaped on their head.
51 They thought not of how, their freedom to gain,
in Egypt’s abodes the first born were slain,
52 and how all God’s people were led forth like sheep,
the flock he delighted in safety to keep.
The psalm continues at Psalm 78D.
– Psalter, 1912, alt.
Oremus 