When Moses held up his hand…Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
Exodus 17:11
Words: Philip Doddridge (1702–1751). Published posthumously in Hymns Founded on Various Texts in the Holy Scriptures, by Job Orton (Shropshire, England: Joshua Eddowes & John Cotton, 1755), number 6: Israel and Amalek.
Music: Olney (Gounod) Charles F. Gounod (1818–1893). Arranged by J. Frederick Bridge, 1897 (🔊 pdf nwc).
Our banner is th’eternal God,
Nor will we yield to fear;
Amidst ten thousand fierce assaults,
His mighty aid is near.
To Him the hands of faith we stretch,
And plead experienced grace;
To Him the voice of prayer we raise,
Nor will He hide His face.
No more, proud Amalek, thy boast,
God’s arm is feeble grown
;
His sword shall lop off every hand
That dares insult His throne.
Awake, tremendous Judge, awake,
Our nation’s cause to plead;
Nor let Thine Israel’s foes, and Thine,
By wickedness succeed.
Our fainting hands, how soon they droop!
But Thou the weak canst raise;
And in the mount of prayer canst leave
An altar to Thy praise.