Poems (Davidson)/Exit from Egyptian Bondage
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EXIT FROM EGYPTIAN BONDAGE.
When Israel's sons, from cruel bondage freed,
Fled to the land by righteous Heaven decreed;
Insulting Pharaoh quick pursued their train,
E'en to the borders of the troubled main.
Fled to the land by righteous Heaven decreed;
Insulting Pharaoh quick pursued their train,
E'en to the borders of the troubled main.
Affrighted Israel stood alone dismayed,
The foe behind, the sea before them laid;
Around, the hosts of bloody Pharaoh fold,
And wave o'er wave the raging Red Sea rolled.
The foe behind, the sea before them laid;
Around, the hosts of bloody Pharaoh fold,
And wave o'er wave the raging Red Sea rolled.
But God, who saves his chosen ones from harm,
Stretched to their aid his all-protecting arm,
And lo! on either side the sea divides,
And Israel's army in its bosom hides.
Stretched to their aid his all-protecting arm,
And lo! on either side the sea divides,
And Israel's army in its bosom hides.
Safe to the shore through watery walls they march,
And once more hail kind Heaven's aerial arch;
Far, far behind, the cruel foe is seen,
And the dark waters roll their march between.
And once more hail kind Heaven's aerial arch;
Far, far behind, the cruel foe is seen,
And the dark waters roll their march between.
The God of vengeance stretched his arm again,
And heaving, back recoiled the foaming main;
And impious Pharaoh 'neath the raging wave,
With all his army, finds a watery grave.
And heaving, back recoiled the foaming main;
And impious Pharaoh 'neath the raging wave,
With all his army, finds a watery grave.
Rejoice, O Israel! God is on your side,
He is your champion, and your faithful guide;
By day, a cloud is to your footsteps given;
By night, a fiery column towers to heaven.
He is your champion, and your faithful guide;
By day, a cloud is to your footsteps given;
By night, a fiery column towers to heaven.
Then Israel's children marched by day and night,
Till Sinai's mountain rose upon their sight:
There righteous Heaven the flying army stayed,
And Israel's sons the high command obeyed.
Till Sinai's mountain rose upon their sight:
There righteous Heaven the flying army stayed,
And Israel's sons the high command obeyed.
To Sinai's mount the trembling people came,
'Twas wrapped in threatening clouds, in smoke, and flame;
A silent awe pervaded all the van;
Not e'en a murmur through the army ran.
'Twas wrapped in threatening clouds, in smoke, and flame;
A silent awe pervaded all the van;
Not e'en a murmur through the army ran.
High Sinai shook! dread thunders rent the air!
And horrid lightnings round its summit glare!
'Twas God's pavilion, and the black'ning clouds,
Dark hovering o'er, his dazzling glory shrouds.
And horrid lightnings round its summit glare!
'Twas God's pavilion, and the black'ning clouds,
Dark hovering o'er, his dazzling glory shrouds.
To Heaven's dread court the intrepid leader came,
To receive its mandate in the people's name;
Loud trumpets peal—the awful thunders roll,
Transfixing terrors in each guilty soul.
To receive its mandate in the people's name;
Loud trumpets peal—the awful thunders roll,
Transfixing terrors in each guilty soul.
But lo! He comes, arrayed in shining light,
And round his forehead plays a halo bright:
Heaven's high commands with trembling were received,
Heaven's high commands were heard, and were believed.
And round his forehead plays a halo bright:
Heaven's high commands with trembling were received,
Heaven's high commands were heard, and were believed.