The Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One.
Isaiah 49:7
Words: Joseph Swain (1761–1796), cento. Recast by William W. Phelps (1792–1872).
Music: Beloved Freeman Lewis (1780–1859) (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good picture of Lewis (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Redeemer of Israel, our only delight,
On whom for a blessing we call,
Our shadow by day,
And our pillar by night,
Our king, our deliverer, our all!
We know He is coming, to gather His sheep
And lead them to Zion in love;
For why in the valley
Of death should they weep
Or in the lone wilderness rove?
How long we have wandered as strangers in sin,
And cried in the desert for Thee!
Our foes have rejoiced
Wen our sorrows they’ve seen,
But Israel will shortly be free.
As children of Zion, good tidings for us.
The tokens already appear.
Fear not, and be just,
For the kingdom is ours.
The hour of redemption is near.