The Psalms of David ‎#LXVIII

LXVIII. Let GOD, the GOD of Battle, rise

1 Let GOD, the GOD of Battle, rise,
And scatter his presumptuous Foes;
Let shameful Rout their Host surprise,
Who spitefully his Pow'r oppose.

2 As Smoke in Tempests Rage is lost,
Or Wax into the Furnace cast;
So let their sacrilegious Host,
Before his wrathful Presence waste.

3 But let the Servants of his Will
His Favour's gentle Beams enjoy;
Their upright Hearts let Gladness fill,
And chearful Songs their Tongues employ.

4 To him your Voice in Anthems raise;
JEHOVAH's awful Name he bears:
In him rejoice, extol his Praise,
Who rides upon high-rolling Spheres.

5 Him, from his Empire of the Skies,
To this low World Compassion draws,
The Orphan's Claim to patronize,
And judge the injur'd Widow's Cause.

6 'Tis GOD, who from a foreign Soil,
Restores poor Exiles to their Home;
Makes Captives free; and fruitless Toil,
Their proud Oppressors righteous Doom.

7 'Twas so of old, when thou didst lead
In Person, LORD, our Armies forth;
Strange Terrors thro' the Desart spread,
Convulsions shook th'astonish'd Earth.

8 The breaking Clouds did Rain distil,
And Heav'n's high Arches shook with Fear,
How then should Sinai's humble Hill,
Of Israel's GOD, the Presence bear?

9 Thy Hand, at famish'd Earth's Complaint,
Reliev'd her from celestial Stores;
And, when thy Heritage was faint,
Assuag'd the Drought with plenteous Show'rs.

10 Where Savages had rag'd before,
At Ease thou mad'st our Tribes reside,
And in the Desert, for the Poor
Thy gen'rous Bounty did provide.

Part II

11 Thou gav'st the Word, we sallied forth,
And in that pow'rful Word o'ercame;
Whilst Virgin-troops, with Songs of Mirth,
In State our Conquests did proclaim.

12 Vast Armies, by such Gen'rals led,
As yet had ne'er receiv'd a Foil,
Forsook their Camp with sudden Dread,
And to our Women left the Spoil.

13 Tho' Egypt's Drudges you have been,
Your Army's Wings shall shine as bright
As Doves in golden Sunshine seen,
Or silver'd o'er with paler Light.

14 'Twas so, when GOD's almighty Hand
O'er scatter'd Kings the Conquest won;
Our Troops, drawn up on Jordan's Strand,
High Salmon's glitt'ring Snow outshone.

15 From thence to Jordan's farther Coast,
And Bashan's Hill, we did advance:
No more her Height shall Bashan boast,
But that she's GOD's Inheritance.

16 But wherefore (tho' the Honour's great)
Should this, O Mountain, swell your Pride?
For Sion is his chosen Seat,
Where he forever will reside.

17 His Chariot's numberless; his Pow'rs
Are heav'nly Hosts, that wait His Will;
His Presence now fills Sion's Tow'rs,
As once it honour'd Sinai's Hill.

18 Ascending high, in Triumph, thou
Captivity hast Captive led;
And on thy People didst bestow
The Spoil of Armies, once their Dread.

19 Ev'n Rebels shall partake thy Grace,
And humble Proselytes repair,
To worship at thy Dwelling Place,
And all the World pay Homage there.

20 For Benefits each Day bestow'd,
Be daily his great Name ador'd;
Who is our Saviour, and our GOD,
Of Life and Death the Sov'reign LORD.

21 But Justice for His harden'd Foes,
Proportion'd Vengeance hath decreed,
To wound the hoary Head of those,
Who in presumptuous Crimes proceed.

22 The LORD hath thus in Thunder spoke,
"As I subdu'd prous Bashan's King,
"Once more I'll break my People's Yoke,
"And from the Deep my Servants bring:

23 "Their Feet shall with a crimson Flood
"Of slaughter'd Foes be cover'd o'er;
"Nor Earth receive such impious Blood,
"But leave for Dogs th' unhallow'd Gore."

Part III

24 When, marching to thy blest Abode,
The wond'rous Multitude survey'd
The pompous State of Thee, O GOD,
In Robes of Majesty array'd.

25 Sweet-singing Levites led the Van,
Loud Instruments brought up the Rear,
Between both Troops, a Virgin Train
With Voice and Timbrel charm'd the Ear.

26 This was the Burden of their Song,
"In full Assemblies bless the LORD,
"All who to Israel's Tribes belong,
"The GOD of Israel's Praise record."

27 Nor little Benjamin alone
From neighb'ring Bounds did there attend,
Nor only Judah's nearer Throne,
Her Counsellors in State did send.

28 But Zebulon's remoter Seat,
And Napthli's more distant Coast,
(The grand Procession to complete)
Sent up their Tribes, a princely Host.

29 Thus GOD, to Strength and Union brought
Our Tribes, at Strife till that blest Hour:
This Work, which Thou, O GOD, hast wrought,
Confirm with fresh Recruits of Pow'r.

30 To visit Salem, LORD, descend
And Sion, thy terrestrial Throne;
Where Kings with Presents shall attend,
And Thee with offer'd Crowns attone.

31 Break down the Spear-Mens Ranks, who threat
Like pamper'd Herds of savage Might,
Their silver-armour'd Chiefs defeat,
Who in destructive War delight.

32 Egypt shall then to GOD stretch forth
Her Hands, and Afric Homage bring:
32 The scatter'd Kingdoms of the Earth,
Their common Sov'reigns Praises sing;

33 Who, mounted on the loftiest Sphere
Of antient Heav'n, sublimely rides;
From whence his dreadful Voice we hear,
Like that of warring Winds and Tides.

34 Ascribe the Pow'r to GOD most high;
Of humble Israel he takes Care;
Whose Strength, from out the dusky Sky,
Darts shining Terrors thro' the Air.

35 How dreadful are the sacred Courts,
Where GOD has fix'd his earthly Throne!
His Strength his feeble Saints supports:
Praise ye the LORD, our GOD alone.

Text Information

• First Line: Let GOD, the GOD of Battle, rise
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1767
• Scripture:
  Psalm 68
• Topic: Prophecies: Of Jesus Christ, concerning his Ascension; Songs of Praise to God: On bringing up the Ark to the Place prepared for it; Thanksgivings: For Victories

Tune Information

• Name: [Let God, the God of Battle, rise]
• Key: a minor