Wherefore Do the Nations Wage?

Wherefore do the na­tions wage

War against the King of kings?

Whence the people’s mad­den­ing rage

Fraught with vain im­ag­in­ings?

Haughty chiefs and rul­ers proud

Forth in band­ed fu­ry run

Braving

with de­fi­ance loud

God and His an­oint­ed Son.

Let us break their bonds in twain!

Let us cast their cords away!

But the High­est with dis­dain

Sees and mocks their vain ar­ray.

High on Zion I pre­pare

(Thus He speaks) “a re­gal throne;

Thou

My Prince

My chos­en heir

Rise to claim it as Thine own!

“Son of God

with God the same

Enter Thine im­per­ial dome!

Lo! the shak­ing heav’ns pro­claim

Mightiest Lord

Thy king­dom come.

Pomp or state dost Thou de­mand?

In Thy Fa­ther’s glo­ry shine!

Dost Thou ask for high co­mmand?

Lo! the uni­verse is Thine!

Ye who spurn His right­eous sway

Yet

ah yet

He spares your breath:

Yet His hand

av­erse to slay

Balances the bolt of death.

Ere that dread­ful bolt des­cends

Haste be­fore His feet to fall

Kiss the scep­ter He ex­tends

And ad­ore Him

Lord of all!