| |
| FROM Sinai’s top the lightnings flashed; | |
| The thunders rolled around—around— | |
| As if the heavenly orbs had clashed | |
| Together with destructive bound, | |
| And down their shattered fragments hurled | 5 |
| Upon a desolated world. | |
| |
| And on the mount there hung a cloud, | |
| Dark as the midnight’s darkest gloom; | |
| And blew a trumpet long and loud, | |
| Like that which shall wake the tomb. | 10 |
| And terror like a sudden frost | |
| Fell on the Israelitish host. | |
| |
| In radiant fire the mighty God | |
| Descended from the heavenly throne; | |
| And on the mountains where He trod, | 15 |
| A pavement as of sapphire stone | |
| Appeared like glittering stars of even | |
| When storms have left the deep-blue heaven. | |
| |
| And as the wondering people turned | |
| To see the glory of the Lord, | 20 |
| The smoke—as if a furnace burned | |
| Within the mountain, swelled and roared, | |
| And all its lofty summits shook | |
| Like sedge leaves by the summer brook. | |
| |
| And Moses from the trembling crowd | 25 |
| Went up to God’s dark secret place | |
| And heard from the surrounding cloud | |
| His message to the Hebrew race, | |
| Who vowed with fervor and accord | |
| To keep the covenant of the Lord. | 30 |
| |
| For they had marked the trump that blew | |
| The fires that gleamed, the peals that roared— | |
| In shadowed glory shine to view | |
| The presence of the eternal Lord, | |
| Bright as His mercy chose to give, | 35 |
| For none can see His face and live. | |
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