Scripture Verse

The mountains quake at Him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at His presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. Nahum 1:5

Introduction

Words: John Need­ham, Hymns De­vo­tion­al and Mo­ral on Va­ri­ous Sub­jects (Bris­tol, Eng­land: S. Far­ley, 1768), num­ber 41.

Music: Che­shire Este’s Psal­ter, 1592 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

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

Lyrics

He reigns—th’Almighty reigns supreme
Ye humble saints rejoice:
Nations attend with awe, and hear
The thunder of His voice.

Dominions, thrones, and mighty powers
Lie prostrate at His feet:
Each seraph lays his glittering crown
Before His awful seat.

Ten thousand shining servants wait
His orders to fulfill:
As lightning swift they fly to save,
And fly as swift to kill.

Earth trembles at one look of His,
And mighty seas retire:
Touched by His hand, the mountains smoke,
And pour down liquid fire.

Great as His power, so great His grace,
For mercy guards His throne:
By mercy more than by His wrath
He chooses to be known.

Lord, may Thy terrors fill my soul
With sacred awe of Thee;
So shall Thy power, and boundless grace,
My constant refuge be.