31. God's wrath upon them came,and slew the fattest of them all;So that the choice of Israel,o'erthrown by death, did fall.
32. Yet, notwithstanding of all this,they sinned still the more;And though he had great wonders wrought,believ'd him not therefore:
33. Wherefore their days in vanityhe did consume and waste;And by his wrath their wretched yearsaway in trouble past.
34. But when he slew them, then they didto seek him shew desire;Yea, they return'd, and after Godright early did enquire.
35. And that the Lord had been their Rock,they did remember then;Ev'n that the high almighty Godhad their Redeemer been.
36. Yet with their mouth they flatter'd him,and spake but feignedly;And they unto the God of truthwith their false tongues did lie.
37. For though their words were good, their heartwith him was not sincere;Unstedfast and perfidiousthey in his cov'nant were.
38. But, full of pity, he forgavetheir sin, them did not slay;Nor stirr'd up all his wrath, but ofthis anger turn'd away.
39. For that they were but fading fleshto mind he did recall;A wind that passeth soon away,and not returns at all.
40. How often did they him provokewithin the wilderness!And in the desert did him grievewith their rebelliousness!
41. Yea, turning back, they tempted God,and limits set uponHim, who in midst of Isr'el isthe only Holy One.
42. They did not call to mind his pow'r,nor yet the day when heDeliver'd them out of the handof their fierce enemy;