A Selection of Hymns ‎#DXXXI

DXXXI. Praise for national peace

1 Great ruler of the earth and skies,
A word of thine almighty breath
Can sink the world, or bid it rise:
Thy smile is life, thy frown is death.

2 When angry nations rush to arms,
And rage, and noise, and tumult reign,
And war resounds its dire alarms,
And slaughter dyes the hostile plains;

3 Thy sovereign eye looks calmly down,
And marks their course, and bounds their pow'r;
Thy word the angry nations own,
And noise and war are heard no more.

4 Then peace returns with balmy wing,
(Sweet peace! with her what blessings fled!)
Glad plenty laughs, the vallies sing,
Reviving commerce lifts her head.

5 Thou good, and wise, and righteous Lord,
All move subservent to thy will;
And peace and war await thy word,
And thy sublime decrees fulfil.

6 To thee we pay our grateful songs,
Thy kind protection still implore?
O may our hearts, and lives, and tongues,
Confess thy goodness and adore.

Text Information

• First Line: Great ruler of the earth and skies
• Title: Praise for national peace
• Author: Steele
• Meter: L. M.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1792
• Scripture:
  Psalm 46:9
• Topic: Times and Seasons: Days of Thanksgiving; National prayer and praise; Praise for peace of the nation; Thanksgiving days

Tune Information

(No tune information)