Introduction
Words: Henry F. Lyte, The Spirit of the Psalms 1834.
Music: Bath (Cooke) William H. Cooke (1838–1898) (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Cooke (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
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,
Psalm 2:1–3Let us break Their bands asunder, and cast away Their cords from us.
Words: Henry F. Lyte, The Spirit of the Psalms 1834.
Music: Bath (Cooke) William H. Cooke (1838–1898) (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Cooke (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Why do the people rage,
Devising frantic things?
Why do the kings of earth engage
Against the King of kings?
Come, let us burst His yoke,
they say,
And cast His hateful bonds away!
God on His heav’nly throne
Laughs at their impious aims;
He made the nations for His own,
And thus His will proclaims,
On Zion’s hill My King shall sit;
Perish, ye rebels, or submit!
Ere time its course began
I issued My decree,
This day, My Son, the Son of Man,
Have I begotten Thee.
To Thee the world and all that live,
Thy blood-bought heritage, I give!
Hear then, ye monarchs, hear!
Ye great, a Greater own!
Bow down with holy joy and fear
Before Messiah’s throne!
Upon Him life and death depend;
O blest who find in Christ a friend!