When Pharaoh Dared to Vex the Saints

When Pha­raoh dared to vex the saints

And thus pro­voked their God

Moses was sent at their com­plaints

Armed with his dread­ful rod.

He called for dark­ness; dark­ness came

Like an o’er­whelm­ing flood;

He turned each lake and ev­ery stream

To lakes and streams of blood.

He gave the sign

and nois­ome flies

Through the whole coun­try spread;

And frogs in croak­ing ar­mies rise

About the mon­arch’s bed.

Through fields

and towns

and pal­aces

The ten­fold ven­geance flew;

Locusts in swarms de­voured their trees

And hail their cat­tle slew.

Then by an an­gel’s mid­night stroke

The flow­er of Egypt died;

The strength of ev­ery house was broke

Their glo­ry and their pride.

Now let the world for­bear its rage

Nor put the church in fear;

Israel must live through ev­ery age

And be th’Al­migh­ty’s care.