Hail to the Lord's Anointed! Great David's greater Son; Hail in the time appointed, His reign on earth begun! He comes to break oppression, To set the captive free; To take away transgression, And rule in equity. | He comes with succour speedy, To those who suffer wrong; To help the poor and needy, And bid the weak be strong; To give them songs for sighing, Their darkness turn to light; Whose souls, condemn'd and dying, Were precious in His sight. | By such shall He be feared, While sun and moon endure, Beloved, obey'd, revered; For He shall judge the poor, 277 Through changing generations, With justice, mercy, truth, While stars maintain their stations Or moons renew their youth. | He shall come down like showers, Upon the fruitful earth, And love, joy, hope, like flowers, Spring in His path to birth: Before Him, on the mountains, Shall Peace, the herald, go; And Righteousness, in fountains, From hill to valley flow. | Arabia's desert-ranger To Him shall bow the knee, The Ethiopian stranger His glory come to see: With offerings of devotion, Ships from the Isles shall meet, To pour the wealth of ocean In tribute at His feet. | Kings shall fall down before Him, And gold and incense bring, All nations shall adore Him, His praise all people sing: For He shall have dominion O'er river, sea, and shore, Far as the eagle's pinion Or dove's light wing can soar. | For Him shall prayer unceasing, And daily vows ascend; 278 His kingdom still increasing, A kingdom without end: The mountain-dews shall nourish A seed in weakness sown, Whose fruit shall spread and flourish, And shake like Lebanon. | O'er every foe victorious, He on His throne shall rest, From age to age more glorious, All-blessing and all-blest; The tide of time shall never His covenant remove; His Name shall stand for ever, That Name to us is--Love. | |