CLX. Great Ruler of the earth and skies

1 Great Ruler of the earth and skies!
A word of thy almighty breath
Can sink the world, or bid it rise;
Thy smile is life, thy frown is death.

2 When angry nations rush to arms,
And rage and noise, and tumult, reign,
And war resounds its dire alarms,
And slaughter spreads the hostile plain;

3 Thy sov'reign eye looks calmly down,
And marks their course, and bounds their pow'r;
Thy word the angry nations own,
And noise and war are heard no more.

4 Then peace returns with balmy wing,
(Sweet peace! with her what blessings fled!)
Glad plenty laughs, the vallies sing,
Reviving commerce lifts her head.

5 Thou good, and wise, and righteous Lord!
All move subservient to thy will;
And peace and war await thy word,
And thy sublime decrees fulfil.

6 To thee we pay our grateful songs,
Thy kind protection still implore:
O may our hearts, and lives, and tongues,
Confess thy goodness, and adore!

Text Information
First Line: Great Ruler of the earth and skies
Language: English
Publication Date: 1789
Topic: Public Thanksgiving for national Blessings: Thanksgiving for Peace
Tune Information
(No tune information)



Media
More media are available on the text authority page.

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us