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 | |
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First Line: | Great Ruler of the earth and skies |
Language: | English |
Publication Date: | 1789 |
Topic: | Public Thanksgiving for national Blessings: Thanksgiving for Peace |