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Shevuoth
WHEN Israel in the wilderness | |
| Had fled from Pharaoh’s cruel might, | |
| The Eternal sent, to lead them on, | |
| A cloud by day, a fire by night. | |
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| And, guided by that heavenly flame, | 5 |
| The beacon from Jehovah’s hand, | |
| The chosen people safely reached | |
| Their destined goal, the promised land. | |
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| Yet not alone in days of yore | |
| Has God his wondrous mercies shown, | 10 |
| For still He grants to all mankind | |
| A glorious light to lead them on. | |
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| A lamp of radiant, glowing hue, | |
| By Israel borne in every clime, | |
| Through fire and flood, through tears and blood. | 15 |
| With courage grand and faith sublime. | |
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| When all the world was steeped in sin, | |
| The Hebrews braved the nations’ wrath | |
| And nobly followed still the guide | |
| That led them on in virtue’s path. | 20 |
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| That beacon is the Decalogue, | |
| Proclaimed from Sinai’s flaming height, | |
| And burning, as each age rolls by, | |
| With purer, grander, holier light. | |
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| Oh glorious flame! Thy sparkling beams | 25 |
| With radiant splendour shine to-day; | |
| Nor time, nor change, nor tyrant’s power | |
| Can quench or dim one holy ray. | |
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| Oh, heavenly lamp! Thy light shall shine | |
| Till sin and hate from earth depart; | 30 |
| Till wrong shall fail and right prevail, | |
| And justice rule the human heart. | |
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| May that bright beacon guide us still, | |
| E’en like God’s own untiring hand, | |
| That we, when this life’s storms are o’er, | 35 |
| May reach with joy the heavenly land. | |
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