And might not, like their fathers, be a stiff rebellious race; A race not right in heart; with God whose sp'rit not stedfast was.
For though their words were good, their heart with him was not sincere; Unstedfast and perfidious they in his cov'nant were.
The wonders great, which thou, O Lord, didst work in Egypt land, Our fathers, though they saw, yet them they did not understand: And they thy mercies' multitude kept not in memory; But at the sea, ev'n the Red sea, provok'd him grievously.
God doth the solitary set in fam'lies: and from bands The chain'd doth free; but rebels do inhabit parched lands.
How often did they him provoke within the wilderness! And in the desert did him grieve with their rebelliousness!
Yet God most high they did provoke, and tempted ever still; And to observe his testimonies did not incline their will: