Psalm 114

When Israel came from Egypt’s coast,
   And Goshen’s marshy plains,
And Jacob with his joyful host
   From servitude and chains;

Then was it seen how much the Jews
   Were holy in his sight,
And God did Israel’s kingdom choose
   To manifest his might.

The sea beheld it, and with dread
   Retreated to make way;
And Jordan to his fountain head
   Ran backwards in dismay.

The mountains, like the rams that bound,
   Exulted on their base;
Like lambs the little hills around
   Skipt lightly from their place.

What is the cause, thou mighty sea,
   That thou thyself should shun;
And Jordan, what is come to thee,
   That thou should backward run?

Ye mountains that ye leaped so high
   From off the solid rock,
Ye hills that ye should gambols try,
   Like firstlings of the flock?

Earth, from the center to the sod
   His fearful presence hail
The presence of Jeshurun’s God,
   In whom our arms prevail.

Who beds of rocks in pools to stand
   Can by his word compel,
And from the veiny flint command
   The fountain and the well.

--Christopher Smart (1722-1771), English poet and forerunner of the Romantic movement, of varied religious background who had a conversion experience after a mental breakdown, who struggled with alcoholism and mental illness, from his A Translation of the Psalms of David.

Scripture reference: Psalm 114, Easter Vigil, and Proper 19A track 1