38 He spread out a cloud to be a covering: and fire to give light in the night-season.
39 At their desire he brought quails: and he filled them with the bread of heaven.
40 He opened the rock of stone, and the waters flowed out: so that rivers ran in the dry places.
41 For why? he remembered his holy promise: and Abraham his servant.
42 And he brought forth his people with joy: and his chosen with gladness;
43 And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they took the labours of the people in possession;
44 That they might keep his statutes: and observe his laws.
DAY 21 EVENING PRAYER
PSALM 106. _Confitemini Domino_.
O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious: and his mercy endureth for ever.
2 Who can express the n.o.ble acts of the Lord: or shew forth all his praise?
3 Blessed are they that alway keep judgement: and do righteousness.
4 Remember me, O Lord, according to the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation;
5 That I may see the felicity of thy chosen: and rejoice in the gladness of thy people, and give thanks with thine inheritance.
6 We have sinned with our fathers: we have done amiss, and dealt wickedly.
7 Our fathers regarded not thy wonders in Egypt, neither kept they thy great goodness in remembrance: but were disobedient at the sea, even at the Red sea.
8 Nevertheless, he helped them for his Name"s sake: that he might make his power to be known.
9 He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the deep, as through a wilderness.
10 And he saved them from the adversaries" hand: and delivered them from the hand of the enemy.
11 As for those that troubled them, the waters overwhelmed them: there was not one of them left.
12 Then believed they his words: and sang praise unto him.
13 But within a while they forgat his works: and would not abide his counsel.
14 But l.u.s.t came upon them in the wilderness: and they tempted G.o.d in the desert.
15 And he gave them their desire: and sent leanness withal into their soul.
16 They angered Moses also in the tents: and Aaron the saint of the Lord.
17 So the earth opened, and swallowed up Dathan: and covered the congregation of Abiram.
18 And the fire was kindled in their company: the flame burnt up the unG.o.dly.
19 They made a calf in h.o.r.eb: and worshipped the molten image.
20 Thus they turned their glory: into the similitude of a calf that eateth hay.
21 And they forgat G.o.d their Saviour: who had done so great things in Egypt;
22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham: and fearful things by the Red sea.
23 So he said, he would have destroyed them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the gap: to turn away his wrathful indignation, lest he should destroy them.
24 Yea, they thought scorn of that pleasant land: and gave no credence unto his word;
25 But murmured in their tents: and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord.
26 Then lift he up his hand against them: to overthrow them in the wilderness;
27 To cast out their seed among the nations: and to scatter them in the lands.
28 They joined themselves unto Baal-peor: and ate the offerings of the dead.
29 Thus they provoked him to anger with their own inventions: and the plague was great among them.
30 Then stood up Phinees and prayed: and so the plague ceased.
31 And that was counted unto him for righteousness: among all posterities for evermore.
32 They angered mm also at the waters of strife: so that he punished Moses for their sakes;
33 Because they provoked his spirit: so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.
34 Neither destroyed they the heathen: as the Lord commanded them;
35 But were mingled among the heathen: and learned their works.
36 Insomuch that they worshipped their idols, which turned to their own decay: yea, they offered their sons and their daughters unto devils;
37 And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters: whom they offered unto the idols of Canaan; and the land was defiled with blood.
38 Thus were they stained with their own works: and went a whoring with their own inventions.
39 Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people: insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.
40 And he gave them over into the hands of the heathen: and they that hated them were lords over them.
41 Their enemies oppressed them: and had them in subjection.