The Cyber Hymnal ‎#9475

9475. While Justice Waves Her Vengeful Hand

1 While Justice waves her vengeful hand
Tremendous o’er a guilty land,
Almighty God, Thy awful power,
With fear and trembling, we adore.

2 Where shall we fly, but to Thy feet?
Our only refuge is Thy seat;
Thy seat, where potent mercy pleads,
And holds Thy thunder from our heads.

3 While peace and plenty blessed our days,
Where was the tribute of Thy praise?
Ungrateful race! How have we spent
The blessings which Thy goodness lent?

4 Pale famine now, and wasting war,
With threatening frown Thy wrath declare;
But war and famine are Thy slaves,
Nor can destroy when mercy saves.

5 Look down, O Lord, with pitying eye,
Though loud our crimes for vengeance cry,
Let mercy’s tender voice prevail,
Nor let Thy long suffering patience fail.

6 Encouraged by Thy sacred Word,
May we not plead the blest record,
That when a humble nation mourns,
Thy rising wrath to pity turns.

7 O let Thy sovereign grace impart
Contrition to each rocky heart,
And bid sincere repentance flow,
A general, undissembled woe.

8 Our arms, O God of armies, bless,
Thy hand alone can give success;
And make our haughty neighbors know
That Heaven protects us from our foe.

9 Fair smiling peace again restore,
With plenty bless the pining poor,
And may a happy, thankful land
Obedient own Thy guardian hand.

Text Information

• First Line: While Justice waves her vengeful hand
• Title: While Justice Waves Her Vengeful Hand
• Author: Anne Steele (1757, alt.)
• Meter: LM
• Language: English
• Copyright: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: LLEF
• Composer: Griffith Hugh Jones
• Meter: LM
• Key: e minor
• Source: Gamau Mawl, by David Jenkins, 1890
• Copyright: Public Domain