
Disowned of heaven, by man oppress'd,
Outcasts from Sion's hallow'd ground,
Wherefore should Israel's sons, once bless'd.
Still roam the scorning world around ?
2 Lord, visit thy forsaken race.
Back to thy fold the wanderers bring;
Teach them to seek thy slighted grace.
And hail in Christ their promised King.
3 The veil of darkness rend in twain.
Which hides their Shiloh's glorious light;
The sever'd olive-branch again
Firm to its parent-stock unite.
4 Hail, glorious day, expected long!
When Jew and Greek one prayer shall pour,
With eager feet one temple throng.
With grateful praise one God adore.
First Line: | Disowned of heaven, by man oppressed |
Author: | James Joyce |
Language: | English |
Copyright: | Public Domain |
Disown'd of Heaven, by man opprest. J. Joyce. [On behalf of the Jews]. First appeared in the Christian Observer for Nov. 1809, in 5 stanzsa of 6 lines, entitled, "Hymn applicable to the Present Condition of the Jews," and signed " J. J." In 1833-5 two altered versions appeared almost together, both beginning,"O why should Israel's sons, once blest." One was included by Elliott in his Psalms & Hymns, 1835, No. 137, and the second in Bickersteth's Christian Psalmody, 1833, No. 408. In later hymnals Bickersteth's text has been almost exclusively adopted, as found in Windle's Collection, No. 305. Hall's alterations in the Mitre, 1836, No. 106, have passed out of use, in common with those of Elliott and others.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)