Isaac Watts · 675 of 724

Hymn 167

Great God! thy glories shall employ My holy fear, my humble joy; My lips in songs of honor bring Their tribute to th' eternal King.

[Earth, and the stars, and worlds unknown, Depend precarious on his throne; All nature hangs upon his word, And grace and glory own their Lord.]

[His sovereign power what mortal knows? If be command, who dares oppose? With strength he girds himself around, And treads the rebels to the ground.]

[Who shall pretend to teach him skill, Or guide the counsels of his will? His wisdom, like a sea divine, Flows deep and high beyond our line.]

[His name is holy, and his eye Burns with immortal jealousy He hates the sons of pride, and sheds His fiery vengeance on their heads.]

[The beamings of his piercing sight Bring dark hypocrisy to light; Death and destruction naked lie, And hell uncovered to his eye.]

[Th' eternal law before him stands; His justice, with impartial hands, Divides to all their due reward, Or by the sceptre or the sword.]

[His mercy, like a boundless sea, Washes our load of guilt away; While his own Son came down and died T' engage his justice on our side.]

[Each of his words demands my faith; My soul can rest on all he saith; His truth inviolably keeps The largest promise of his lips.]

O tell me, with a gentle voice, "Thou art my God," and I'll rejoice! Filled with thy love, I dare proclaim The brightest honors of thy name.