Scripture Verse

Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which Thou hast wrought for us. Psalm 68:28

Introduction

Words: From The Psal­ter (Pitts­burgh, Penn­syl­van­ia: Unit­ed Pres­by­te­ri­an Board of Pub­li­ca­tion, 1912), num­ber 182.

Music: Shel­ter­ing Wing Jo­seph Barn­by, 1883 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Joseph Barnby (1838–1896)

Lyrics

O Zion, ’tis thy God’s command
That thou in strength securely stand;
O God, confirm and strengthen still,
Thy purposes in us fulfill.

O Thou, whose glo­ri­ous temple stands
In Zion, famed through heathen lands,
Kings shall Thy power and glo­ry see,
And bring their presents unto Thee.

Thou wilt rebuke the fierce and strong
Who hate the right and choose the wrong,
And scatter those who peace abhor,
The nations that delight in war.

The heathen princes yet shall flee
From idols and return to Thee;
Earth’s sinful and benighted lands
To God shall soon stretch out their hands.

Praise God and sing His matchless worth,
Ye kings and kingdoms of the earth;
He dwells within the heavenly height,
And utters forth His voice of might.

Ascribe ye strength to God on high,
His might transcendent fills the sky;
His glo­ry and omnipotence
Remains His people’s sure defense.

Forth from Thy dwelling place, O God,
Thy awful glo­ry shines abroad;
Thy people’s strength is all from Thee;
Blest be Thy name eternally.