The Psalms of David ‎#Le

Le. The last Judgment

1 The Lord, the sov'reign sends his summons forth,
Calls the south nations, and awakes the north,
From east to west the sounding orders spread,
Thro' distant worlds and regions of the dead:
No more shall atheists mock his long delay;
His vengeance sleeps no more: Behold the day!

2 Behold the judge descends, his guards are nigh,
Tempest and fire attend him down the sky;
Heav'n, earth, and hell, draw near; let all things come
To hear his justice, and the sinner's doom:
But gather first my saints (the Judge commands)
Bring them, ye angels from their distant lands.

3 Behold, my cov'nant stands for ever good,
Sealed by th' eternal sacrifice in blood,
And sign'd with all their names, the GreeK the Jew,
That paid the ancient worship or the new,
There's no distinction here, come spread their thrones,
And near me seat my fav'rites and my sons.

4 I the Almighty Saviour and their God,
I am their judge, ye heav'ns proclaim abroad
My just eternal sentence, and declare,
Those awful truths that sinners dread to hear:
Sinners in Zion, tremble and retire;
I doom the painted hypocrite to fire.

5 Not for the want of goats or bullocks slain
Do I condemn thee; bulls and goats are vain,
Without the flames of love. In vain the store
Of brutal off'rings that were mine before;
Mine are the tamer beasts and savage breed,
Flocks, herds, and fields and forests where they feed.

6 If I were hungry would I ask thee food?
When did I thirst, or drink thy bullocks' blood?
Can I be flattered with thy cringing bows,
Thy solemn chatt'rings, or fantastic vows?
Are my eyes charmed thy vestments to behold,
Glaring in gems, and gay in woven gold?

7 Unthinking wretch! how couldst thou hope to please
A God, a spirit with such toys as these?
While with my grace and statutes on thy tongue
Thou lov'st deceit, and dost thy brother wrong!
In vain to pious forms thy zeal pretends,
Thieves and adult'rers are thy chosen friends.

8 Silent I waited with long-suff'ring love,
But didst thou hope that I should ne'er reprove?
And cherish such an impious thought within,
That God, the Righteous, would indulge thy sin?
Behold my terrors now; my thunders roll,
And thy own crimes affright thy guilty soul.

9 Sinners, awake betimes; ye fools, be wise,
Awake before this dreadful morning rise;
Change your vain tho'ts, your crooked works amend,
Fly to the saviour, make the judge your friend;
Lest like a lion, his last vengeance tear
Your trembling souls, and no deliv'rer's near.

Text Information

• First Line: The Lord, the sov'reign sends his summons forth
• Title: The last Judgment
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1780
• Scripture:
  Psalm 50
• Notes: Public Domain.

Tune Information

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