O Israel's Shepherd, Joseph's guide

Verse 1

O Isr'els shepherd, Joseph's guide, Our pray'rs to thee vouchsafe to hear; Thou that dost on the cherubs ride, Again in solemn state appear.

Verse 2

Behold how Benjamin expects, With Ephraim and Manasseh join'd, In our celiv'rance, the effects Of thy resistless strength to find.

Verse 3

Do thou convert us, Lord, do thou The lustre of thy face display; And all the ills we suffer now, Like scatter'd clouds, shall pass away.

Verse 4

O thou, whom heav'nly hosts obey, How long shall thy fierce anger burn? How long thy suff'ring people pray, And to their pray'rs have no return?

Verse 5

When hungry, we are fotc'd to drench Our scanty food in floods of woe; When dry, our raging thirst we quench With streams of tears that largely flow.

Verse 6

For us the heathen nations round, As for a common prey, contest: Our foes with spiteful joy abound, And at our lost condition jest.

Verse 7

Do thou convert us, Lord, do thou The lustre of thy face display, And all the ills we suffer now, Like scatter'd clouds shall pass away.

Verse 8

Thou brought'st a vine from Egypt's land; And casting out the heathen race, Didst plant it with thine own right hand, and firmly fix'd it in their place.

Verse 9

Before it thou prepar'dst the way, And mad'st it take a lasting root; Which, blest with thy indulgent ray, O'er all the land did widely shoot.

Verse 10

The hills were cover'd with its shade, Its goodly boughs did cedars seem: Its branches to the sea were spread, And reach'd to proud Euphrates' stream.

Verse 11

Why then hast thou its hedges o'er thrown, Which thou had'st made so firm and strong? Whilst all its grapes, defenceless grown, Are pluck'd by those that pass along.

Verse 12

See how the bristling forest boar With dreadful fury lays it waste: Hark how the savage monsters roar, And to their helpless prey make haste.

Verse 13

To thee, O God of hosts, we pray, Thy wonted goodness, Lord, renew: From heav'n thy throne this vine survey, And her sad state with pity view.

Verse 14

Behold the vineyard made by thee, Which thy right hand did guard so long; And keep that branch from danger free, Which for thyself thou mad'st so strong.

Verse 15

To wasting flames 'tis made a prey, And all its spreading boughs cut down; At thy rebuke they soon decay, And perish at thy dreadful frown.

Verse 16

Crown thou Messiah with success, By thy right hand secur'd from wrong: The son of man in mercy bless, Whom for thyself thou mad'st so strong.

Verse 17

So shall we still continue free From whatsoe'er deserves thy blame; And if once more reviv'd by thee, Will always praise thy holy name.

Verse 18

Do thou convert us, Lord, do thou The lustre of thy face display; And all the ills we suffer now, Like scatter'd clouds shall pass away.