The Psalms of David ‎#50

50. The Lord, the judge, before his throne

1 The Lord, the judge, before his throne
Bids the whole earth draw nigh,
The nations near the rising sun,
And near the Western sky.

2 No more shall bold blasphemers say,
Judgment will ne'er begin;
No more abuse his long delay
To impudence and sin.

3 Thron'd on a cloud our God shall come,
Bright flames prepare his way,
Thunder and darkness, fire and storm,
Lead on the dreadful day.

4 Heav'n from above his call shall hear,
Attending angels come,
And earth and hell shall know and fear
His justice and their doom.

5 "But gather all my saints (he cries)
"That made their peace with God,
"By the Redeemer's sacrifice,
"And seal'd it with his blood.

6 "Their faith and works, brought forth to light,
"Shall make the world confess,
"My sentence of reward is right,
"And heav'n adore my grace.

Part II.

7 Thus saith the Lord, "The spacious fields,
"And flocks, and herds, are mine,
"O'er all the cattle of the hills
"I claim a right divine.

8 "I ask no sheep for sacrifice,
"Nor bullocks burnt with fire;
"To hope and love, to pray and praise,
"Is all that I require.

9 "Invoke my name when trouble's near,
"My hand shall set thee free;
"Then shall thy thankful lips declare,
"The honor due to me.

10 "The man that offers humble praise,
"Declares my glory best;
"And those that tread my holy ways
"Shall my salvation taste."

11 "Not for the want of bullocks slain
"Will I the world reprove;
"Altars, and rites, and forms are vain,
"Without the fire of love.

12 "And what have hypocrites to do
"To bring their sacrifice?
"They call my statutes just and true,
"But deal in theft and lies.

13 "Could you expect to 'scape my sight,
"And sin without controul?
"But I shall bring your crimes to light,
With anguish in your soul."

14 Consider, ye, that slight the Lord,
Before his wrath appear;
If once you fall beneath his sword,
There's no deliv'rer there.

Part III.

15 The Lord, the judge, his churches warns,
Let hypocrites attend and fear,
Who place their hope in rites and forms,
But make not faith nor love their care.

16 Vile wretches dare rehearse his name
With lips of falsehood and deceit;
A friend or brother they defame,
And sooth and flatter those they hate.

17 They watch to do their neighbours wrong,
Yet dare to seek their Maker's face;
They take his cov'nant on their tongue,
But break his laws, abuse his grace.

18 To heav'n they lift their hands unclean,
Defil'd with lust, defil'd with blood;
By night they practise every sin,
By day their mouths draw near to God.

19 And while his judgments long delay,
They grow secure and sin the more:
They think he sleeps as well as they,
And put far off the dreadful hour.

20 Oh dreadful hour! when God draws near,
And sets their crimes before their eyes!
His wrath their guilty souls shall tear,
And no deliv'rer dare to rise.

Text Information

• First Line: The Lord, the judge, before his throne
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1789
• Scripture:
  Psalm 50

Tune Information

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