God, to Correct a Guilty World

God

to correct a guilty world

In wrath is slow to rise;

But comes at length

in thunder clothed

And darkness veils the skies.

His awful banners

lifted high

The nations’ God declare;

And stained with blood

with terrors marked

Spread wonder and despair.

All earthly glo­ry

pomp and pride

Are in His presence lost:

Empires o’erturned

thrones

scepters

crowns

In wild confusion tossed.

While war and misery prevail

And desolation wide

In God

the sov­er­eign Lord of all

The righteous still confide.

Dark and mysterious is the course

Of His tremendous way:

His path is in the trackless winds

And in the foaming sea.

Yet

though enveloped in the cloud

And from our view concealed

The righteous Judge will soon appear

In majesty revealed!

Then will He curb the lawless power

The deadly wrath of man;

And all the windings will unfold

Of His own gracious plan.

Then all the sons of tyranny

In ruin shall be hurled;

And light

and liberty

and bliss

Embrace the new born world.