| |
| OH, for that day, that day of bliss entrancing | |
| When Israel stood, her night of bondage o’er. | |
| And leaped in heart to see no more advancing | |
| Egypt’s dark host along the desert shore; | |
| For scarce a ripple now proclaimed where lay | 5 |
| The boasting Pharaoh and his fierce array. | |
| |
| Miriam! she silent stood, that sight beholding, | |
| And bowed with sacred awe her wondering head. | |
| Till lo! No more their hideous spoils withholding | |
| The depths indignant, spurned their buried dead; | 10 |
| And all along that sad and vengeful coast | |
| Pale corpses lay,—a monumental host. | |
| |
| Miriam! She saw; then all to life awaking,— | |
| “Sing to the Lord,” with a great voice she cried; | |
| “Sing to the Lord,” their many timbrels shaking, | 15 |
| Ten thousand ransomed hearts and tongues replied; | |
| While, leading on the dance in triumph long | |
| Thus the great Prophetess broke forth in song: | |
| |
| “Oh, sing to the Lord, | |
| Sing his triumph right glorious; | 20 |
| “O’er horse and rider | |
| Sing his right arm victorious; | |
| Pharaoh’s horsemen and chariots | |
| And captains so brave, | |
| The Lord hath thrown down | 25 |
| In the bottomless wave. | |
| |
| “Man of war is the Lord | |
| And Jehovah is His name; | |
| We trusted his pillar | |
| Of cloud and of flame. | 30 |
| Proud boasters, ye followed | |
| But where have ye gone? | |
| Down, down in the waters | |
| Ye sank like a stone. | |
| |
| “O Lord thou didst blow | 35 |
| With thy nostrils a blast | |
| And upheaved, the huge billows | |
| Like mountains stood fast! | |
| Egypt shuddered with wonder | |
| That pathway to see, | 40 |
| Those depths all congealed | |
| In the heart of the sea. | |
| |
| “‘I, too, will march onward’ | |
| (The enemy cried) | |
| I shall soon overtake | 45 |
| I, the spoil will divide | |
| I will kill’—O my God! | |
| The depths fell at thy breath | |
| And like lead they went down | |
| In those waters of death. | 50 |
| |
| “But o’er us the soft wings | |
| Of thy mercy outspread, | |
| To thine own chosen dwelling | |
| Our feet have been led. | |
| Palistrina, affrighted, | 55 |
| The tidings shall hear, | |
| And your hearts, O ye nations, | |
| Shall wither with fear. | |
| |
| “Thus brought in with triumph | |
| Safe planted and blessed | 60 |
| On thy own holy mountain | |
| Thy people shall rest. | |
| Shout! Pharaoh is fallen | |
| To rise again never. | |
| Sing! The Lord he shall reign | 65 |
| Forever and ever.” | |
| |
