It was the God of glory
who saved them from that peril.
(ll. 279-282) Then in the hot flame the holy Azariah,
eager-hearted, sang an inspired hymn. The sinless man praised God
and spake this word:
(ll. 283-295) "O Lord of all! Thy might is strong to save!
Excellent is Thy name in all the earth, sublime and great in
glory! Thy laws are always sure and just and mighty, even as
Thou art mighty. Wise and righteous is Thy will, O Lord of
heaven! O God of spirits, grant us help and favour! Save us, O
Holy Lord! Wrapped in flame, we pray Thee for Thy mercy on our
woe, our thraldom and humiliation.
(ll. 295-308) "As we have wrought, so hath it come to pass. Our
fathers also, city-dwellers, in pride have sinned, and broken Thy
commandments, and scorned a holy life. We are scattered over all
the spacious earth and driven asunder, cast out from grace. In
many lands and under many peoples our life is infamous and vile,
and we are subject to the worst of earthly kings, and captive to
grim-hearted men; in heathen lands we suffer thraldom.
(ll. 309-332) "Thanks be to Thee, O Lord of hosts! that Thou
hast laid this punishment upon us. Forsake us not, O Lord
Eternal, for Thy mercy's sake which men attribute unto Thee, and
for the covenant, O Lord of glory, Shaper of spirits, Saviour of
men! which Thou didst give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
Pages:
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136