1 When God all-clement heard his people's cries,
And freed them from their galling miseries;
When he redeem'd them with his mighty hand,
And safe-restor'd them to their native land;
'Twixt hope and fear distracted, long they seem
Like men awaking from an irksome dream;
2 Then were their sorrows into laughter turn'd;
They then rejoic'd as much as late they mourn'd;
Dried were their tears--'twas all one scene of joy;
While hymn's of gratitude their tongues employ,
Nor less astonish'd at the great event
The heathen were, and murmur'd discontent:
What wonders hath their God perform'd? they cry;
3 Wonders indeed! we therefore shout for joy.
4 And thou our brethren, gracious God, restore;
In their hard bondage let them sigh no more;
Let them return, and fill the crouded road;
As, when the south-wind blows, the rapid flood
Disdains confinement, and breaks down it's mounds,
And the whole plain in one wide deluge drowns.
5 Who trusts his grain unto a barren soil,
Anxious he fears, 'twill not repay his toil;
But if glad rains a plenteous crop produce,
What sudden transports o'er his soul diffuse?
6 So we, from exile happily return'd,
Where long our fetters and our woes we 'ad mourn'd;
Reseated in our native fields, are gay,
And our deliv'rer's clemency display'
Ourselves to life, to liberty, restor'd,
We, raptur'd, sing the mercies of our Lord.