Lyrics
1. Hail to the Lord’s anointed;
Great David’s greater Son!
Hail, in the time appointed,
His reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression,
To set the captive free,
To take away transgressions,
And rule in equity.
2. He comes, with succour speedy,
To those who suffer wrong:
To help the poor and needy,
And bid the weak be strong:
To give them songs for sighing,
Their darkness turned to light,
Whose souls, condemned and dying,
Were precious in His sight.
3. By such shall He be fearèd
while sun and moon endure;
Beloved, obeyed, reverèd;
for He shall judge the poor
Through changing generations,
with justice, mercy, truth,
While stars maintain their stations,
or moons renew their youth.
4. He shall come down like showers
Upon the fruitful earth:
And love, joy, hope, like flowers,
Spring in His path to birth:
Before Him, on the mountains,
Shall peace the herald go;
And righteousness in fountains,
From hill to valley flow.
5. Arabia’s desert ranger
to Him shall bow the knee;
The Ethiopian stranger
His glory come to see;
With offerings of devotion
ships from the isles shall meet,
To pour the wealth of oceans
in tribute at His feet.
6. Kings shall fall down before Him,
And gold and incense bring;
All nations shall adore Him,
His praise all people sing;
To Him shall prayer unceasing
and daily vows ascend;
His kingdom still increasing,
A kingdom without end.
7. For Him shall prayer unceasing
and daily vows ascend;
His kingdom still increasing,
a kingdom without end:
The mountain dews shall nourish
a seed in weakness sown,
Whose fruit shall spread and flourish
and shake like Lebanon.
8. O’er every foe victorious,
He on His throne shall rest;
From age to age more glorious,
All blessing and all-blest.
The tide of time shall never
His covenant remove;
His name shall stand for ever
His changeless name of love.
9. **alt verses
10. To him shall pray'r unceasing
And daily vows ascend;
His kingdom still increasing,
A kingdom without end:
The tide of time shall never
His covenant remove;
His name shall stand for ever
That nane to us is—love.
11. O’er every foe victorious,
He on His throne shall rest;
From age to age more glorious,
All blessing and all-blest.
The tide of time shall never
His covenant remove;
His name shall stand for ever
That nane to us is—love.
12. The heavens, which now conceal Him
In counsels deep and wise,
In glory shall reveal Him
To our rejoicing eyes;
He, who with hands uplifted
Went from this earth below,
Shall come again, all gifted,
His blessing to bestow.
13. He shall come down like showers
Upon the new-mown grass,
And joy and hope like flowers
Spring up where He doth pass;
Before Him on the mountains
Shall peace, the herald, go;
And righteousness in fountains
From hill to valley flow.
14. Kings shall fall down before Him,
And gold and incense bring;
All nations shall adore Him,
His praise all peoples sing,
Outstretched His wide dominion
O'er river, sea and shore,
Far as the eagle's pinion,
Or dove's light wing can soar.
15. Kings shall bow down before Him,
And gold and incense bring;
All nations shall adore Him,
His praise all people sing;
To Him shall prayer unceasing
and daily vows ascend;
His kingdom still increasing,
A kingdom without end.