Select Masterpieces of Biblical Literature Part 13

A damsel, two damsels to every man; To Sisera a spoil of divers colours, A spoil of divers colours of embroidery, Of divers colours of embroidery on both sides, on the necks of the spoil!"

_Tutti._ So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: But let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might!

V

DAVID'S LAMENT

Thy glory, O Israel, Is slain upon thy high places!

How are the mighty-- Fallen!

Tell it not in Gath, Publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncirc.u.mcised triumph.

Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew nor rain upon you, Neither fields of offerings: For there the s.h.i.+eld of the mighty was vilely cast away, The s.h.i.+eld of Saul, as of one not anointed with oil.

From the blood of the slain, From the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan turned not back, And the sword of Saul returned not empty.

Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, And in their death they were not divided; They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions.

Ye daughters of Israel, Weep over Saul, Who clothed you in scarlet delicately, Who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

How are the mighty-- Fallen in the midst of the battle!

O Jonathan, Slain upon thy high places,

I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: Very pleasant hast thou been unto me: Thy love to me was wonderful, Pa.s.sing the love of women.

How are the mighty-- Fallen!

And the weapons of war-- Perished!

VI

DAVID'S SONG OF VICTORY

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine; The G.o.d of my rock, in him will I trust; My s.h.i.+eld, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge; My saviour, thou savest me from violence.

I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from mine enemies.

For the waves of death compa.s.sed me, The floods of unG.o.dliness made me afraid.

The cords of Sheol were round about me: The snares of death came upon me.

In my distress I called upon the LORD, Yea, I called unto my G.o.d: And he heard my voice out of his temple, And my cry came into his ears.

Then the earth shook and trembled, The foundations of heaven moved And were shaken, because he was wroth.

There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, And fire out of his mouth devoured: Coals were kindled by it.

He bowed the heavens also, and came down; And thick darkness was under his feet.

And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: Yea, he was seen upon the wings of the wind.

And he made darkness pavilions round about him, Gathering of waters, thick clouds of the skies.

At the brightness before him coals of fire were kindled The LORD thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered his voice.

And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; Lightning, and discomfited them.

Then the channels of the sea appeared, The foundations of the world were laid bare, By the rebuke of the LORD, At the blast of the breath of his nostrils He sent from on high, he took me; He drew me out of many waters; He delivered me from my strong enemy, From them that hated me; For they were too mighty for me.

They came upon me in the day of my calamity: But the LORD was my stay.

He brought me forth also into a large place: He delivered me, because he delighted in me.

The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: According to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

For I have kept the ways of the LORD, And have not wickedly departed from my G.o.d.

For all his judgements were before me: And as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.

I was also perfect toward him, And I kept myself from mine iniquity.

Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness; According to my cleanness in his eyesight.

With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, With the perfect man thou wilt shew thyself perfect; With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; And with the perverse thou wilt shew thyself froward.

And the afflicted people thou wilt save: But thine eyes are upon the haughty, That thou mayest bring them down.

For thou art my lamp, O LORD: And the LORD will lighten my darkness.

For by thee I run upon a troop: By my G.o.d do I leap over a wall.

As for G.o.d, his way is perfect: The word of the LORD is tried; He is a s.h.i.+eld unto all them that trust in him.

For who is G.o.d, save the LORD?

And who is a rock, save our G.o.d?

G.o.d is my strong fortress: And he guideth the perfect in his way.

He maketh his feet like hinds' feet: And setteth me upon my high places.

He teacheth my hands to war; So that mine arms do bend a bow of bra.s.s.

Thou hast also given me the s.h.i.+eld of thy salvation: And thy gentleness hath made me great.

Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, And my feet have not slipped.

I have pursued mine enemies, And destroyed them; Neither did I turn again till they were consumed.

And I have consumed them, And smitten them through that they cannot arise: Yea, they are fallen under my feet.

For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.

Thou hast also made mine enemies turn their backs unto me, That I might cut off them that hate me.

They looked, but there was none to save; Even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.

Then did I beat them small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the streets, and did spread them abroad.

Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people; Thou hast kept me to be the head of the nations: A people whom I have not known shall serve me.

The strangers shall submit themselves unto me: As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me.

The strangers shall fade away, And shall come trembling out of their close places.

The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; And exalted be the G.o.d of the rock of my salvation: Even the G.o.d that executeth vengeance for me, And bringeth down peoples under me, And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: Yea, thou liftest me up above them that rise up against me: Thou deliverest me from the violent man.

Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the nations, And will sing praises unto thy name.

Great deliverance giveth he to his king: And sheweth lovingkindness to his anointed, To David and to his seed, for evermore.

VII

THE BRIDE'S REMINISCENCES

A Lyric Idyl

The Interrupted Visit