University of Virginia Library

God my Strength, to Thee I pray;
Turn not Thou thine ear away;
Lest, while to thy Suppliant's cry
Thou thy answer shalt deny,
Sudden I my place assume
'Midst the tenants of the tomb.
Gracious to my vows attend,
While the humble knee I bend,
And, inspir'd with holy fear,
Tow'rd thy shrine my hands uprear.
Give me not thy wrath to know,
Nor to feel the vengeful blow
By thy just decrees assign'd
To the Men of impious mind,
Who, their hearts intent on wrong,
Smooth with lies their venom'd tongue.
What shall guilt like theirs demand
From the Justice of thy hand?
Let whate'er their thoughts devise,
(Thus aloud that Justice cries,)
What their ruthless arm has dar'd,
Meet from Thee its full reward:
While thy wrath with steady pace
Step by step their feet shall trace,
And, though now their stubborn ear
Shun thy wondrous acts to hear,
Teach them to confess thy pow'r,
Shatter'd like some Heav'n-struck Tow'r,
That before th' astonish'd sight,
Stooping from its airy height,
'Midst the thunder's awful roar,
Falls, to be rebuilt no more.

Let me (for with pitying ear
God my pray'r has deign'd to hear,)
Let me thanks perpetual yield;
He my Strength, and He my Shield,
On his long-experienc'd aid
See my hope for ever stay'd,
While my heart, with joy possess'd,
Dances in my throbbing breast,
And my tongue in grateful lays
Consecrates to Him its praise.

Thou whose arm is o'er us spread,
Prompt to guard th' anointed head,
And from each invader's hand
Vindicate thy chosen Land,
Save thy People from distress,
And thy Patrimony bless!
Give them, Lord, thy Love to share,
Feed them with a Shepherd's care,
And their pow'r to latest days
O'er their foes triumphant raise.