Scripture Verse

The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet. Nahum 1:3

Introduction

illustration
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Albrecht Dürer
1471–1528

Words: Is­aac Watts, Hymns and Spir­it­u­al Songs, Book 1, 1707, num­ber 42. Di­vine wrath and mer­cy.

Music: St. Ma­ry ar­ranged from Prys’ Welsh Psal­ter, 1621 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Isaac Watts
1674–1748

Lyrics

Adore and tremble, for our God
Is a consuming fire!
His jealous eyes His wrath inflame,
And raise His vengeance higher.

Almighty vengeance, how it burns!
How bright His fury glows!
Vast magazines of plagues and storms
Lie treasured for his foes.

Those heaps of wrath, by slow degrees,
Are forced into a flame;
But kindled, oh! how fierce they blaze!
And rend all nature’s frame.

At His approach the mountains flee,
And seek a watery grave:
The frighted sea makes haste away,
And shrinks up every wave.

Through the wide air the mighty rocks
Are swift as hailstones hurled;
Who dares engage His fiery rage
That shakes the solid world?

Yet, mighty God, Thy sovereign grace
Sits regent on the throne;
The refuge of Thy chosen race
When wrath comes rushing down.

Thy hand shall on rebellious kings
A fiery tempest pour,
While we beneath Thy sheltering wings
Thy just revenge adore.