Scripture Verse

He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under His feet. And He rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, He did fly upon the wings of the wind. Psalm 18:9–10

Introduction

Words: Tho­mas Stern­hold (?–1549).

Music: Ma­jes­ty (Bill­ings) Will­iam Bill­ings, 1778 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Stern­hold (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
William Billings (1746–1800)

Lyrics

The Lord descended from above,
And bowed the heavens high;
And underneath His feet He cast
The darkness of the sky.
On cherub and on cherubim
Full royally He rode;
And on the wings of all the winds
Came flying all abroad;
And on the wings of all the winds
Came flying all abroad.

And from above the Lord sent down
To fetch me from below,
And plucked me out of waters great
That would me overflow.
(And me delivered from my foes)
That would have made me thrall;
Yea, from such foes as were too strong
For me to deal withal;
Yea, from such foes as were too strong
For me to deal withal.

And as I was an innocent,
So did He me regard,
And to the cleanness of my hands
He gave me my reward.
For that I walked in His ways,
And in His paths have trod,
And have not wavered wickedly
Against my Lord and God;
And have not wavered wickedly
Against my Lord and God.