Ye princes that in might excel

Verse 1

Ye princes, that in night excel, Your grateful sacrifice prepare; God's glorious actions loudly tell, His wond'rous pow'r to all declare.

Verse 2

To his great name fresh altars raise; Devoutly due respect afford; Him in his holy temple praise, Where he's with solemn state ador'd.

Verse 3

'Tis he that with amazing noise The wat'ry clouds in sunder breaks: The ocean trembles at his voice, When he from heav'n in thunder speaks.

Verse 4

How full of pow'r his voice appears! With what majestick terror crown'd! Which from the roots tall cedars tears, And strews their scatter'd branches round.

Verse 5

They, and the hills on which they grow, Are sometimes hurried far away; And leap like hinds that bounding go, Or unicorns in youthful play.

Verse 6

When God in thunder loudly speaks, And scatter'd flames of lightning sends, The forest nods, the desart quakes, And stubborn Kadesh lowly bends.

Verse 7

He makes the hinds to cast their young, And lays the beasts dark coverts bare; While those that to his courts belong, Securely sing his praises there.

Verse 8

The Lord sits sov'reign on the flood, The thund'rer reigns for ever king; But makes his church his blest abode, Where we his awful glories sing.

Verse 9

In gentler language, there the Lord The council of his grace imparts; Amidst the raging storm, his word Speaks peace and courage to our hearts.