Listen Peoples, While I Tell

Listen

peo­ples

while I tell

What an el­der race be­fell;

Hearken to the so­lemn word

Learn obe­di­ence to the Lord.

Israel

erst from bond­age freed

Chosen for a ho­ly seed

Blessed with an un­er­ring code

Worshiped one eter­nal God!

He their ene­mies sub­dued

Hearts by bound­less boun­ties wooed

Fed them with the fin­est wheat

Milk and ho­ney

pur­est treat!

Oft as trou­ble raised its cry

Still was their pro­tect­or nigh;

From His sec­ret place He came

Swift to res­cue

slow to blame.

Long His pity had en­dured

Long their pros­per­ous state se­cured;

Till

im­pa­tient of re­proof

Impious

they dis­owned His truth!

Then

aban­doned to their lust

Sold to self­ish­ness and dust

Soon a ’whelm­ing tem­pest came;

Swept away their place and name.