PSALM XVIII. The earth shook, and was alarmed, And the foundations of the hills rocked with terror, Before his face a smoke ascended, And a flame consumed before his presence: Burning fires were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens and came down, And clouds of darkness were beneath his feet. He concealed himself in a veil of darkness: Of black water and thick clouds of ether. From the brightness before him thick clouds passed along, Hailstones and burning fires. Jehovah thundered in the heavens: And the Most High God sent forth his voice: He shot out his arrows and dispersed the enemies, And he multiplied his thunder and confounded them. PSALM CXXXIX. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? And whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend the heavens thou art there; If I make my bed in the abyss, behold thou art there! If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the extreme parts of the ocean, There also thy hand shall lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me. ISAIAH, CHAPTER XLI. I will open in the high places rivers; The acacia, the myrtle, and the tree producing oil; The pine and the box together: That they may see, and that they may know; And that the Holy One of Israel hath created it. ISAIAH, CHAPTER LII. Awake, awake; be clothed with thy strength, O Sion: Clothe thyself with thy glorious garments, O Jerusalem, thou holy city! Shake thyself from the dust, ascend thy lofty seat, O Jerusalem: Loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Sion! How beautiful appear on the mountains The feet of the joyful messenger; of him that announceth peace! Of the joyful messenger of good tidings; of him that announceth salvation! Of him that sayeth unto Sion, Thy God reigneth! All thy watchmen lift up their voice; they shout together: All all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. ISAIAH, CHAPTER LV. Ho! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters! Wherefore do ye weigh out your silver for that which is no bread? Attend and hearken unto me, and eat that which is truly good; And your soul shall feast itself with the richest of delicacies. Seek ye Jehovah, while he may be found, Call ye upon him, while he is near at hand; Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts: And let him return unto Jehovah, for he will receive him with compassion; And unto our God, for he aboundeth in forgiveness. For my thoughts are not your thoughts; Neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah. For as the heavens are higher than the earth; So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts. Verily, like as the rain descendeth, But moisteneth the earth, And maketh it generate, and put forth its increase; That it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall be the word which goeth forth from my mouth; It shall not return unto me fruitless; But it shall effect what I have willed; And make the purpose succeed, for which I have sent it. And with peace shall ye be led onward: The mountains and the hills shall burst forth before you into song; And all the trees of the fields shall clap their hands. ISAIAH, CHAPTER LXIII. (Chorus.)-Who is this that cometh from Edom? With garments deeply dyed from Bozrah? This, that is magnificent in his apparel; Marching on in the greatness of his strength? (Messiah.)-I who publish righteousness, and am mighty to save. (Chorus.)-Wherefore is thine apparel red? And thy garments as of one that treadeth the wine-vat? (Messiah.)-I have trodden the vat alone; And of the peoples there was not a man with me. And I trampled them in mine indignation: And their life-blood was sprinkled upon my garment; For the days of vengeance was in my heart; And the year of my redeemed was come. And I looked, and there was no one to help; And I was astonished that there no one to uphold: ON GOD. O, thou Eternal One, whose presence bright Whom none can comprehend, and none explore; Embracing all-supporting-ruling o'er- May measure out the ocean deep-may count And thought is lost ere thought can soar so high, Thou, from primeval nothingness did call, Sprang from Thee; of light, joy, harmony, Thy word created all, and doth create; Thy splendour fills all space with rays divine; Thou art, and wert, and shall be! glorious! great! Light-giving, Life-sustaining, Potentate! Thy chains the unmeasured universe surround As sparks mount upwards from the fiery blaze, So suns are born,-so worlds spring forth from Thee, And as the spangles, in the sunny rays, Shine from the silver snow,-the pageantry Of Heaven's bright army glitters in thy praise. A million torches, lighted by thy hand, Wander unwearied through the blue abyss; Suns lighting systems with their joyous beams! Yes! as a drop of water in the sea, All this immensity in Thee is lost : What are ten thousand worlds compared to Thee? Is but an atom in the balance weigh'd Against Thy greatness-is a cipher brought Against infinity! What am I then?-nought! Nought-but the effluence of Thy light divine, As shines the sunbeam in a drop of dew.- Thou art directing, guiding all, Thou art! Close to the realms where angels have their birth, The chain of being is complete in me; I can command the lightning, and am dust! Creator! Yes-Thy wisdom and Thy word Thy light, Thy love, in their bright plentitude Its heavenly flight beyond this little sphere,- O thoughts ineffable! O visions blest! Though worthless our conceptions all of Thee- God! thus alone my lowly thoughts can soar, From the Russian of Derzhavin. |