Scripture Verse

The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. Psalm 50:1

Introduction

Words: From The Psal­ter (Pitts­burgh, Penn­syl­van­ia: Unit­ed Pres­by­te­ri­an Board of Pub­li­ca­tion, 1912), num­ber 137.

Music: St. Pe­ters­burg, at­trib­ut­ed to Dmi­tri S. Bort­ni­an­sky, 1825 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Dmitri S. Bortniansky (1752–1825)

Lyrics

The mighty God, Je­ho­vah, speaks
And calls the earth from sea to sea;
From beauteous Zion God shines forth,
He comes and will not silent be;
Devouring flame before Him goes,
And dark the tempest round Him grows.

He calls aloud to Hea­ven and earth
That He may justly judge His own:
My chosen saints together bring
Who sacrifice to Me alone;
The heav’ns His right­eous­ness declare,
For God Himself as judge is there.

Hear, O My people, I will speak,
Against thee I will testify;
Give ear to Me, O Israel,
For God, thy covenant God, am I;
I do not spurn thy sacrifice,
Thy offerings are before My eyes.

I will receive from out thy fold
No offering for My holy shrine;
The cattle on a thousand hills
And all the forest beasts are Mine;
Each mountain bird to Me is known,
Whatever roams the field I own.

Behold, if I should hungry grow,
I would not tell My need to thee,
For all the world itself is Mine,
And all its wealth belongs to Me;
Why should I aught of thee receive,
My thirst or hunger to relieve?

Bring thou to God the gifts of thanks,
And pay thy vows to God Most High;
Call ye upon My holy name
In days when sore distress is nigh;
Deliverance I will send to thee,
And praises thou shalt give to Me.