1 Give thanks to God, invoke his name,
And tell the world his grace;
Sound through the earth his deeds of fame,
That all may seek his face.
2 His covenant which he kept in mind
For numerous ages past,
To numerous ages yet behind
In equal force shall last.
3 He swore to Abraham and his seed,
And made the blessings sure:
Gentiles the ancient promise read,
And find his truth endure.
4 "Thy seed shall make all nations blest,
(Said the Almighty voice)
"And Canaan's land shall be their rest,
"The type of heavenly joys.
5 [How large the grant! how rich the grace!
To give them Canaan's land,
When they were strangers in the place,
A small and feeble band!
6 Like pilgrims through the countries round
Securely they remov'd:
And haughty kings that on them frown'd
Severely he reprov'd.
7 "Touch mine anointed, and mine arm
"Shall soon avenge the wrong:
"The man that does my prophets harm
Shall know their God is strong."
8 Then let the world forbear its rage,
Nor put the church in fear;
Israel must live through every age,
And be th' Almighty's care.
Pause I.
9 When Pharaoh dar'd to vex the saints,
And thus provok'd their God,
Moses was sent at their complaints,
Arm'd with his dreadful rod.
10 He call'd for darkness: darkness came
Like an o'erwhelming flood;
He turn'd each lake and every stream
To lakes and streams of blood.
11 He gave the sign, and noisome flies
Through the whole country spread;
And frogs in baleful armies rise
About the monarch's bed.
12 Through fields and towns and palaces
The tenfold vengeance flew;
Locusts in swarms devour'd their trees
And hail their cattle slew.
13 Then by an Angel's midnight stroke
The flower of Egypt dy'd;
The strength of every house was broke,
Their glory and their pride.
14 Now let the world forbear its rage,
Nor put the church in fear;
Israel must live through every age,
And be th' Almighty's care.
Pause II.
15 Thus were the tribes from bondage freed,
And left the hated ground;
Rich with Egyptian spoils they fled,
Nor was one feeble found.
16 The Lord himself chose out their way,
And mark'd their journies right,
Gave them a leading cloud by day,
A fiery guide by night.
17 They thirst; and waters from the rock
In rich abundance flow,
And following still the course they took
Ran all the desert through.
18 O wondrous stream! O blessed type
Of ever-flowing grace!
So Christ our rock maintains our life
And aids our wandering race.
19 Thus guarded by th' Almighty hand,
The chosen tribes possest
Canaan the rich, the promis'd land,
And there enjoy'd their rest.
20 Then let the world forbear its rage,
The church renounce her fear;
Israel must live through every age,
And be th' Almighty's care.
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