Why did the Jews proclaim their rage?
The Romans, why their swords employ?
Against the Lord their powers engage,
His dear Anointed to destroy?

“Come, let us break His bands,” they say;
“This Man shall never give us laws”:
And thus they cast His yoke away,
And nail’d the Monarch to the cross.

But God, who high in glory reigns,
Laughs at their pride, their rage controls;
He’ll vex their hearts with inward pains,
And speak in thunder to their souls.

“I will maintain the King I made
On Zion’s everlasting hill;
My hand shall bring Him from the dead,
And He shall stand your Sov’reign still.”

His wondrous rising from the earth
Makes His eternal Godhead known;
The Lord declares His heav’nly birth—
“This day I have begot My Son.

“Ascend, My Son, to My right hand,
There Thou shalt ask, and I bestow,
The utmost bounds of heathen lands;
To Thee the northern isles shall bow.”

But nations that resist His grace
Shall fall beneath His iron stroke;
His rod shall crush His foes with ease,
As potters’ earthen work is broke.

Now, ye that sit on earthly thrones,
Be wise, and serve the Lord, the Lamb;
Now at His feet submit your crowns,
Rejoice and tremble at His Name.

With humble love address the Son,
Lest He grow angry, and ye die;
His wrath will burn to worlds unknown,
If ye provoke His jealousy.

His storms shall drive you quick to hell;
He is a God, and ye but dust;
Happy the souls that know Him well,
And make His grace their only trust.