Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people…That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us.
Luke 1:68,71
Words: Carl P. Daw, Jr., 1989. The lyrics are based on the words spoken by Zacharias upon seeing his newborn son. The stanza that begins My child
is Zacharias’ prophecy of what his son would do after he grew up and became known as John the Baptist.
Music: Forest Green English tune. Arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906 (🔊 pdf nwc).
Words: Carl P. Daw, Jr. © 1989 Hope Publishing Company, www.hopepublishing.com. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Blessed be the God of Israel,
Who comes to set us free
And raises up new hope for us:
A Branch from David’s tree.
So have the prophets long declared
That with a mighty arm
God would turn back our enemies
And all who wish us harm.
With promised mercy will God still
The covenant recall,
The oath once sworn to Abraham,
From foes to save us all;
That we might worship without fear
And offer lives of praise,
In holiness and righteousness
To serve God all our days.
My child, as prophet of the Lord
You will prepare the way,
To tell God’s people they are saved
From sin’s eternal sway.
Then shall God’s mercy from on high
Shine forth and never cease
To drive away the gloom of death
And lead us into peace.