1 The God of our salvation hears The groans of Sion mix'd with tears; Yet when he comes with kind designs, Thro' all the way his terror shines.
2 On him the race of man depends, Far as the earth's remotest ends, Where the Creator's Name is known By nature's feeble light alone.
3 Sailors, that travel o'er the flood, Address their frighted souls to God; When tempests rage and billows roar At dreadful distance from the shore.
4 He bids the noisy tempest cease; He calms the raging crowd to peace, When a tumultuous nation raves Wild as the winds, and loud as waves.
5 Whole kingdoms shaken by the storm He settles in a peaceful form; Mountains establish'd by his hand, Firm on their old foundations stand.
6 Behold his ensigns sweep the sky, New comets blaze and lightnings fly, The heathen lands, with swift surprise, From the bright horrors turn their eyes.
7 At his command the morning-ray Smiles in the east, and leads the day; He guides the sun's declining wheels Over the tops of western hills.
8 Seasons and times obey his voice; The evening and the morn rejoice To see the earth made soft with showers, Laden with fruit and drest in flowers.
9 'Tis from his watery stores on high He gives the thirsty ground supply; He walks upon the clouds, and thence Doth his enriching drops dispense.
10 The desert grows a fruitful field, Abundant food the vallies yield; The vallies shout with cheerful voice, And neighb'ring hills repeat their joys.
11 The pastures smile in green array; There lambs and larger cattle play; The larger cattle and the lamb Each in his language speaks thy Name.
12 Thy works pronounce thy power divine, O'er every field thy glories shine; Thro' every month thy gifts appear; Great God! thy goodness crowns the year.