I hear ten thousand voices singing

Verse 1

I hear ten thousand voices singing, Their praises to the Lord on high; Far distant shores and hills are ringing With anthems of their nations’ joy. Praise ye the Lord! for He has given To lands in darkness hid His light; As morning rays light up the heaven, His Word has chased away our night.

Verse 2

On China’s shores I hear His praises, From lips that once kissed idol stones; Soon as His banner He upraises, The Spirit moves the breathless bones— Speed, speed! Thy Word o’er land and ocean; The Lord in triumph has gone forth; The nations hear with strange emotion, From East to West, from South to North.

Verse 3

The song has sounded o’er the waters, And India’s plains re-echo joy; Beneath the moon sit India’s daughters, Soft singing, as the wheel they ply— Thanks to Thee, Lord! for hope of glory, For peace on earth to us revealed; Our cherished idols fell before Thee, Thy Spirit has our pardon sealed.

Verse 4

On Afric’s sunny shore, glad voices Wake up the morn of Jubilee; The negro, once a slave, rejoices, Who’s freed by Christ is doubly free: Sing, brothers, sing! yet many a nation Shall hear the voice of God and live; E’en we are heralds of salvation, The Word He gave we’ll freely give.

Verse 5

Fair are New Zealand’s wooded mountains, Deep glens, blue lakes and dizzy steeps; But sweeter than the murmuring fountains Rises the song from holy lips: By blood did Jesus come to save us, So deeply stained with brothers’ blood; Our hearts we’ll give to Him who gave us Deliverance from the fiery flood.

Verse 6

O’er prairies wild the song is spreading Where once the war-cry sounded loud; But now the evening sun is shedding His rays upon a praying crowd: Lord of all all worlds, eternal Spirit! Thy light upon our darkness shed; For Thy dear love, for Jesus’ merit, From joyful hearts be worship paid.

Verse 7

Hark! hark! a louder sound is booming O’er Heav’n and earth, o’er land and sea; The angel’s trump proclaims His coming— Ou day of endless Jubilee: Hail to Thee, Lord! Thy people praise Thee; In every land Thy name we sing; On Heaven’s eternal throne upraise Thee; Take Thou Thy power, Thou glorious king.