Classic Poem

Part I.

O YOU , who ephods wear and incense fling
On sacred flames, Jehovah's praises sing.
You who His temple guard, O celebrate
His glorious Name, His noble acts relate.
How great a joy with such sincere delight
To crown the day and entertain the night!
For Israel is His choice; and Jacob's race
His treasure, and the object of His grace.
In pow'r how infinite! how much before
Those mortal gods whom frantic men adore!
All on His will depend; all homage owe,
In heav'n, in earth, and in the depths below.
At His command exhaled vapours rise,
And in condensed clouds obscure the skies;
From thence in show'rs He horrid lightning flings,
And from their caves the struggling tempests brings.
He the firstborn of men and cattle slew;
Fresh streams of blood the towns and plains imbrew.
Th' inhabitants that drink of Nilus' flood,
At His confounding wonders trembling stood.

Part II.

Great princes, who excell'd in fortitude,
And mighty nations by His pow'r subdu'd.
Strong Sihon, whom the Amorites obey'd;
And strenuous Og, who Bashan's sceptre sway'd;
With all the kingdoms of the Canaanites,
Who to the conquerors resign their rights.
To whom He their dismantled cities grants,
And in those fruitful fields His Hebrews plants.
Thy Name shall last unto eternity,
And Thy immortal fame shall never die.
Thou dost Thy servant pardon and protect,
Advance the humble, and the proud deject.
Those helpless gods, ador'd in foreign lands,
Are gold and silver, wrought by human hands.
Blind eyes have they, deaf ears, still silent tongues;
Nor breath exhale from their inactive lungs.
Who made, resemble them; and such are those
Who in such senseless stocks their hopes repose.
O praise the Lord, ye who from Israel spring;
His praises, O you sons of Aaron, sing;
You of the house of Levi praise His Name;
All you who God adore His praise proclaim.
From Sion praise the only Good and Great,
Who in Jerusalem hath fix'd His seat.