1 Not to ourselves, who are but dust,
Not to ourselves is glory due,
Eternal GOD, thou only just,
Thou only gracious, wise and true.
2 Display to earth thy dreadful name;
Why should a heathen's haughty tongue
Insult us, and, to raise our shame,
Say, "Where's the GOD you've serv'd so long?
3 The GOD we serve maintains his throne,
Above the clouds, beyond the skies;
Thro' all the earth his will is done,
He knows our groans, he hears our cries.
4 But the vain idols they adore
Are senseless shapes of stone and wood;
At best a mass of glittering ore,
A silver saint, or golden god.
5 [With eyes and ears, they carve the head;
Deaf are their ears, their eyes are blind;
In vain are costly offerings made,
And vows are scattered in the wind.
6 Their feet were never made to move,
Nor hands to save when mortals pray;
Mortals that pay them fear or love,
Seem to be blind and deaf as they.]
7 O Israel, make the Lord thy hope,
Thy help, thy refuge, and thy rest;
The Lord shall build thy ruins up,
And bless the people and the priest.
8 The dead no more can speak thy praise,
They dwell in silence and the grave;
But we shall live to sing thy grace,
And tell the world thy power to save.
Text Information | |
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First Line: | Not to ourselves, who are but dust |
Title: | The true GOD our Refuge, or, Idolatry reproved |
Language: | English |
Publication Date: | 1785 |
Scripture: | |
Notes: | First Metre |