1 Why did the Jews proclaim their rage? The Romans why their swords employ? Against the Lord their powers engage His dear anointed to destroy?
2 "Come, let us break his bands," they say, "This man shall never give us laws ;" And thus they cast his yoke away, And nail'd the monarch to the cross.
3 But God, who high in glory reigns, Laughs at their pride, their rage controls; He'll vex their hearts with inward pains, And speak in thunder to their souls.
4 "I will maintain the King I made "On Zion's everlasting hill, "My hand shall bring him from the dead, "And he shall stand your sovereign still."
5 [His wondrous rising from the earth Makes his eternal Godhead known! The Lord declares his heavenly birth, "This day have I begot my Son.
6 "Ascend, my Son, to my right hand, "There thou shalt ask, and I bestow "The utmost bounds of heathen lands; "To thee the northern isles shall bow."]
7 But nations that resist his grace Shall fall beneath his iron stroke; His rod shall crush his foes with ease As potters' earthen work is broke.