1The

dubious1

raven2

doth her young forsake

2Whilst

callow3

; she no care of them will take

3Till she perceives their plumes of

sable hue4

,

4They being nourished with

celestial dew5

.

5If God the voice of

volatiles6

doth hear,

6Why should His children then so faint and fear?

7’Twas He that these

hard-hearted birds7

did make

8Of His

Elijah8

constant care to take;

9When he involved was in want and sorrow,

10They brought him bread and

flesh9

both eve and morrow.

11Thus

God’s affections altereth every hour10

12To show to us His infinite love and power.

13Then as thy friends and near relations die

14To Him alone (to Him) for comfort fly;

15For though thy father and thy mother be

16In no capacity to comfort thee,

17And though successive sorrows and new fears

18Makes thee His

altar11

cover o’er with tears,

19Nay, though thy only love doth thee forsake,

20Yet He will then thee to His mercy take.

21Despair not then, my soul, but patient be,

22For He that hears young ravens will hear thee.