Classic Poem

No. 1.

Thank and praise Jehovah's name,
For his mercies, firm and sure,
From eternity, the same,
To eternity endure.

Let the ransom'd thus rejoice,
Gather'd out of every land;
As the people of his choice,
Pluck'd from the destroyer's hand.

In the wilderness astray,
Hither, thither, while they roam,
Hungry, fainting by the way,
Far from refuge, shelter, home: —

Then unto the Lord they cry,
He inclines a gracious ear,
Sends deliverance from on high,
Rescues them from all their fear.

To a pleasant land He brings,
Where the vine and olive grow,
Where from flowery hills the springs
Through luxuriant valleys flow.

O that men would praise the Lord,
For his goodness to their race;
For the wonders of his word,
And the riches of his grace!

No. 2.

They that mourn in dungeon gloom,
Bound in iron and despair,
Sentenced to a heavier doom
Than the pangs they suffer there; —

Foes and rebels once to God,
They disdain'd his high control;
Now they feel his fiery rod
Striking terrors through their soul.

Wrung with agony, they fall
To the dust, and, gazing round,
Call for help; — in vain they call,
Help, nor hope, nor friend are found.

Then unto the Lord they cry;
He inclines a gracious ear,
Sends deliverance from on high,
Rescues them from all their fear.

He restores their forfeit breath,
Breaks in twain the gates of brass;
From the bands and grasp of death,
Forth to liberty they pass.

O that men would praise the Lord,
For his goodness to their race;
For the wonders of his word,
And the riches of his grace!

No. 3.

F OOLS , for their transgression, see
Sharp disease their youth consume,
And their beauty, like a tree,
Withering o'er an early tomb.

Food is loathsome to their taste,
And the eye revolts from light;
All their joys to ruin haste,
As the sunset into night.

Then unto the Lord they cry;
He inclines a gracious ear,
Sends deliverance from on high,
Rescues them from all their fear.

He with health renews their frame,
Lengthens out their number'd days;
Let them glorify his name
With the sacrifice of praise.

O that men would praise the Lord,
For his goodness to their race;
For the wonders of his word,
And the riches of his grace!

No. 4.

They that toil upon the deep,
And, in vessels light and frail,
O'er the mighty waters sweep
With the billow and the gale, —

Mark what wonders God performs,
When He speaks, and, unconfined,
Rush to battle all his storms
In the chariots of the wind.

Up to heaven their bark is whirl'd
On the mountain of the wave;
Down as suddenly 'tis hurl'd
To the abysses of the grave.

To and fro they reel, they roll,
As intoxicate with wine;
Terrors paralyse their soul,
Helm they quit, and hope resign.

Then unto the Lord they cry;
He inclines a gracious ear,
Sends deliverance from on high,
Rescues them from all their fear.

Calm and smooth the surges flow,
And, where deadly lightning ran,
God's own reconciling bow
Metes the ocean with a span.

O that men would praise the Lord,
For his goodness to their race;
For the wonders of his word,
And the riches of his grace!

No. 5.

L ET the elders praise the Lord,
Him let all the people praise,
When they meet with one accord
In his courts, on holy days.

God for sin will vengeance take,
Smite the earth with sore distress,
And a fruitful region make
As the howling wilderness.

But when mercy stays his hand,
Famine, plague, and death depart;
Yea, the rock, at his command,
Pours a river from its heart.

There the hungry dwell in peace,
Cities build, and plough the ground,
While their flocks and herds increase,
And their corn and wine abound.

Should they yet rebel, — his arm
Lays their pride again in dust:
But the poor He shields from harm,
And in Him the righteous trust.

Whoso wisely marks his will,
Thus evolving bliss from woe,
Shall, redeem'd from every ill,
All his loving-kindness know.