Scripture Verse

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His Anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Psalm 2:1–4

Introduction

portrait
Thoro Harris (1874–1955)

Words: Will­iam H. Bath­urst, Psalms and Hymns 1831, page 6.

Music: Cri­mea Tho­ro Har­ris, cir­ca 1905 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
William H. Bathurst (1796–1877)

Lyrics

How vain­ly strive un­god­ly foes
Christ’s grow­ing em­pire to re­strain!
And with pre­sump­tu­ous scorn op­pose
The Gos­pel’s ev­er­last­ing reign!

The Lord on His etern­al throne
Derides their im­po­tent de­signs;
His word is sure—“Thou art My Son
In whom My per­fect im­age shines.

Earth’s ut­most bounds shall own Thy sway,
And ran­somed he­athen bow the knee;
While ov­er­whelm­ing wrath shall slay
The foes that will not wor­ship Thee.

Lord, let our trust in Him be placed
Who reigns and in­ter­cedes above;
That we with trem­bling joy may taste
The bless­ing of a Sav­ior’s love.