A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench: He shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
Isaiah 42:3
Words: Eli Corwin, in Minnetonka Songs, edited by I. H. Bunn & J. F. Merry (Cincinnati, Ohio: John Church, 1879), page 18.
Music: Davenport Emma L. Morton, 1879 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Corwin or Morton (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Mighty, yet meek,
He comes to seek
And save the lost;
To bring us peace,
And sweet release,
At countless cost,
At countless cost.
Ye hearts that bleed,
The bruisèd reed
He will not break.
The smoldering fire
Shall not expire,
He bids it wake,
He bids it wake.
Prisoners of hope,
Who helpless grope
In dungeon cells;
Lo, Jesus comes,
And from the tombs
Darkness dispels,
Darkness dispels.
Behold our king
Shall judgment bring,
And right shall reign.
The blind shall see,
And captives be
Unbound again,
Unbound again.
Haste, bring the light
That scatters night;
The nations wait,
Lord not in vain
For Thee to reign
In royal state,
In royal state.