Thou hast made the earth to tremble; Thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.
Psalm 60:1–2
Words: John Needham, Hymns Devotional and Moral on Various Subjects (Bristol, England: S. Farley, 1768), number 39, alt. Compos’d on occasion of the dreadful earthquake at Lisbon, 1755.
Music: Farnham traditional English tune (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good picture of Needham (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Great God! Thy vast and deep designs
What mortal can explore?
To trace Thy steps is not our part,
But humbly to adore.
Slow is Thy wrath, Thy patience great;
But when Thy anger burns,
It shakes the earth, it shakes the sea,
And mountains overturn.
Deep in the earth Thy magazines
Of dreadful vengeance lie;
And when Thy blast shall fire the train
Huge rocks shall upwards fly.
Convulsions seize the heaving earth
At Thy almighty call;
Cities with all their lofty towers
In hideous ruin fall.
Repent, repent,
Thy vengeance cries,
May nations hear Thy rod;
Forgive our sins, Lord, spare our land,
And be Thou still our God.
Whilst mercy lasts may nations know
The season of Thy grace:
Lest fiery vengeance should consume
A vile rebellious race.