In loftiest strains address the mighty God

Verse 1

In loftiest strains address the mighty God; To Israel's great redeemer chant aloud;

Verse 2

Chant the glad psalm, and to the timbrel join The lute, the psaltery, harmony divine!

Verse 3

Sound, sound the clarion, and your joy display; Now is the Hated feast, the solemn day;

Verse 4

The sacred solemn day, which heav'n ordain'd, Which Israel swore t' observe, while time remain'd;

Verse 5

The great memorial of Egyptian rage, When nought cou'd Pharaoh's harden'd heart assuage; When on the banks of Nile, sad wand'rers, they In direful bondage groan'd, and felt dismay; When they a language heard, not understood;

Verse 6

When bent their backs beneath the galling load.

Verse 7

"'Twas then, in misery sunk, with griefs appall'd, "With fervent prayer (says God) on me you call'd; "On me you call'd, and I indulgent heard, "Dispers'd your woes, your road to freedom clear'd; "Enwrapt in clouds, I gave my sacred law, "In thunder spoke, and struck your souls with awe; "Your faith at Merihah's fam'd waters prov'd, "Forgave your murmurs, and the cause remov'd.

Verse 8

"Hear, O my people, with attention hear, "Hear, while my solemn promise I declare:

Verse 9

"If thou my laws, my statutes, will obey, "And after other gods wilt scorn to stray: "If to their altars thou'lt no victims bring,

Verse 10

"But only worship me, thy God, thy king, "Thy God that from hard bondage set thee free, " And pav'd thy way to peace, to liberty; "On thee I'll blessings 'bove thy hopes bestow, "And ev'ry solid good to thee shall flow;

Verse 11

"Vainly I said; my people wou'd not hear, "But to my promise tum'd a listless ear;

Verse 12

"Therefore I left them to their worst of foes, "Their senseless selves, the guides themselves had chose; "Therefore I left them, madly to fulfil "The wretched dictates of their headstrong will.

Verse 13

"But Oh! that they had heard me, and obey'd, "Nor ever from the way I taught them stray'd!

Verse 14

"Me their support, with glory they had reign'd, "And o'er their foes a noble conquest gain'd.

Verse 15

"I had not then maintain'd the odious cause "Of those that hate me, and despise my laws; "To Israel they had yielded; Israel's God "Eternal rule on Israel had bestow'd;

Verse 16

"Them with what happy affluence I had blest! "The fields had furnish'd a continual feast; "From the hard rock had gush'd ambrosial rills, "Sweet as the nectar, which the bee distils.