[II. SAMUEL]
1 A Poem David makes on Saul,
2 Doth king in Judah reign;
3 By treacheries stout Abner dies,
4 And Ishbosheth is slain.
5 By all the tribes is David crown'd,
6 The ark with triumph brings;
7 To build intends, God him commends,
8 He conquers many kings.
9 Comforteth lame Mephibosheth,
10 His envoys beards half shav'd;
11 Uriah's wife he takes, and life;
12 Pardon'd; of child bereav'd.
13 Debauch-revenging-Absalom flees,
14 Brought home by Joab's art;
15 Ahithophel and he rebel,
16 Wife Hushai acts his part.
17 Envious Ahithophel hangs himself,
18 Proud Absalom is slain;
19 King comes in peace, shews acts of grace,
20 Sheba rebels again.
21 For Gibeon's sake Saul's sons are hang'd,
22 Kind David's psalm of praise;
23 His dying song and warriors strong,
24 A pestilence three days.
[I. KINGS]
1 Anointed is king Solomon,
2 Performs his father's charge;
3 Prays to be wise; two harlots tries,
4 His wealth and wisdom large.
5 Before-hand fits materials,
6 Then up the temple sets;
7 With houses more, and works good store,
8 The temple dedicates.
9 Cov'nants with God, sends out his fleet,
10 Queen Sheba hears his fame;
11 BY concubines and wives he sins,
12 Ten tribes his son disclaim.
13 Doom'd Bethel's alter; prophet slain,
14 Jer'boam hears heaven's will;
15 The idols all by Asa fall,
16 Zimri himself doth kill.
17 Elijah's fed, doth raise the dead,
18 True God by fire declares;
19 Flees to a cell [[7]], from Jezebel,
20 Ahab Benhadad spares.
21 For's vineyard Ahab Naboth stones,
22 The dogs lick Ahab's blood;
These chapters two and twenty shew,
Of fifteen kings, five good.
[[7]] A cave in mount Horeb
[II. KINGS]
1 A Fire from heaven Elijah brings,
2 To heaven in fire ascends;
3 Elisha brings drink for three kings,
4 Dead raises: oil extends.
5 Bathes Naaman clean: Gehazi plagued,
6 Steel swims: an host struck blind;
7 A famine's chang'd to plenty strange,
8 Told Hazael's bloody mind.
9 Cast to the dogs is Jezebel,
10 Jehu Baal's priests ensnares;
11 Joash his reign: his mother slain,
12 The temple he repairs.
13 Dead raised by Elisha's bones,
14 Good Amaziah slain;
15 Good Azariah's leprosy,
16 King Ahaz wicked rain.
17 Exiled are ten tribes for sin,
18 Rabshekeh loudly rails,
19 Sennacherib boasts: God slays his host,
20 And Hezekiah heals.
21 Fierce wrath Manasseh's sins provoke,
22 Josiah good, though only eight;
23 The idols meet his angry stroke,
24 The Jews are brought unto the yoke.
25 Jerusalem laid desolate.