Shout to the Lord, and let our joys
Through the whole nation run;
Ye British skies, resound the noise
Beyond the rising sun.
Thee, mighty God, our souls admire,
Thee our glad voices sing,
And join with the celestial choir
To praise th' eternal King.
Thy power the whole creation rules,
And on the starry skies
Sits smiling at the weak designs
Thine envious foes devise.
Thy scorn derides their feeble rage,
And with an awful frown
Flings vast confusion on their plots,
And shakes their Babel down.
[Their secret fires in caverns lay,
And we the sacrifice;
But gloomy caverns strove in vain
To 'scape all-searching eyes.
Their dark designs were all revealed,
Their treasons all betrayed:
Praise to the God that broke the snare
Their cursed hands had laid.]
In vain the busy sons of hell
Still new rebellions try,
Their souls shall pine with envious rage,
And vex away and die.
Almighty grace defends our land
From their malicious power;
Let Britain with united songs
Almighty grace adore.
Source: Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts, The #II.92