The state of the Ievves.
The 4. key.
The prophet describeth the first calling, and difficulte state of the Iewish
nation, 6. their prosperitie at other times. 10. Againe their afflictions in captiuitie, and
persecutions.
1 Vnto the end, for the sonnes of Core to vnderstanding.
2 O GOD we haue heard with our eares: our fathers haue declared to vs.
The worke, that thou hast wrought in their dayes: and in the dayes of old.
3 Thy hand destroyed the nations, and thou didst plant them: thou didst afflict the peoples, and expel them:
4 For not by their owne sword did they possesse the land, and their owne arme did not saue them:
But thy right hand, and thyne arme, and the illumination of thy countenance: because thou wast pleased in them.
5 Thou art the same my king and my God: which commandest the saluations of Iacob.
6 In thee we shal turne out our enemies with the horne, & in thy name we shal contemne them that ryse vp against vs.
7 For I wil not hope in my bowe: and my sword wil not saue me.
8 For thou hast saued vs from them that afflict vs: and them that hate vs thou hast confounded.
9 In God we shal be praysed al the day: and in thy name we wil confesse for euer.
10 But now thou hast repelled and confounded vs: and thou wilt not goe forth ô God in our hostes.
11 Thou hast turned vs backe behind our enemies: and they that hated vs, spoyled for themselues.
12 Thou hast geuen vs as sheepe that are to be eaten: and thou hast dispersed vs among the nations.
13 Thou hast sold thy people without price: and there was no multitude in the exchanges of them.
14 Thou hast made vs a reproche to our neighbours, a scorne and mocking stocke to them, that are round about vs.
15 Thou hast made vs for a parable to the Gentiles: a wagging of the head among the peoples.
16 Al the day my shame is against me, and the confusion of my face hath couered me.
17 At the voyce of the vpbrayder, and the reprocher: at the face of the enemie and persecutor.
18 Al these thinges haue come vpon vs, neither haue we forgotten thee: and we haue not done wickedly in thy testament.
19 And our hart hath not reuolted backward: and thou hast declined our pathes from thy way:
20 Because thou hast humbled vs in the place of affliction, and the shadow of death hath couered vs.
21 If we haue forgotten the name of our God, and if we haue spred forth our handes to a strange God:
22 Wil not God enquire of these thinges? For he knoweth the secretes of the hart.
Because for thee we are killed al the day: we are estemed as sheepe of slaughter.
23 Arise why sleepest thou ô Lord? Arise, and expel vs not to the end.
24 Why dost thou turne away thy face, forgettest our pouertie and our tribulation?
25 Because our soule is humbled in the dust: our bellie is glewed in the earth.
26 Arise Lord, helpe vs: and redeme vs for thy name.