Scripture Verse

The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before Him: all nations shall serve Him. Psalm 72:10–11

Introduction

Words: James Mer­rick (1720–1769).

Music: Ham­burg Lo­well Ma­son, 1824. First ap­peared in The Bos­ton Han­del and Hay­dn So­cie­ty Col­lect­ion of Church Mu­sic, third edi­tion, 1825 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Mer­rick (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Lowell Mason (1792–1872)

Lyrics

Before Mes­si­ah’s pre­sence meet
The chiefs, at whose im­pe­ri­al feet
Arabia’s far-di­vid­ed shores
Prolific spread the rich­est stores.

See kings from Tar­shish and each isle,
Their pre­sents bring with will­ing toil;
Each prince to Him shall hom­age pay,
Each na­tion own His eq­ual sway.

He, when the help­less poor shall cry,
Shall hear pro­pi­tious from on high,
Health to their faint­ing souls con­vey,
And chal­lenge from the grave its prey.

Nor fraud, nor ra­pine’s ir­on hand
Shall dare to touch the pi­ous band;
For sac­red is their blood, and high
Its price in His pa­ter­nal eye.

Long shall He live, and She­ba’s gold
In tri­bu­ta­ry heaps be­hold
Displayed, while crowds shall sup­pli­ant bow,
And thank­ful pay their dai­ly vow.