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

2 '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.

3 But God, who high in glory reigns,
Laughs at their pride, their rage controuls;
He'll smite their hearts with inward pains,
And speak in thunder to their souls.

4 '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.

5 [His wond'rous rising from the earth,
Makes his eternal Godhead known:
The Lord declares his heav'nly birth,
'This day have I begot my Son.

6 'Ascend, my Son, to my right hand,
'There thou shalt ask, and I bestow
'The utmost bounds of Heathen land;
'To thee their northern isles shall bow.']

7 But nations that resist his grace
Shall fall beneath his iron stroke;
His rod shall crush his foes with ease,
As potter's earthen work I broke.

Pause.

8 Now ye who sit on earthly thrones,
Be wise, and serve the Lord the Lamb:
Now to his feet submit your crowns,
Rejoice and tremble at his name.

9 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.

10 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.