Hear, hear, O heavens (William Billings)
Music files
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- (Posted 2015-01-07) CPDL #34172:
- Editor: Barry Johnston (submitted 2015-01-07). Score information: Letter, 4 pages, 92 kB Copyright: Public Domain
- Edition notes: Oval note edition.
- (Posted 2015-01-07) CPDL #34174:
- Editor: Barry Johnston (submitted 2015-01-07). Score information: Unknown, 5 pages, 176 kB Copyright: Public Domain
- Edition notes: Note shapes added (4-shape).
General Information
Title: Hear, hear, O heavens
Composer: William Billings
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Sacred, Anthem
Language: English
Instruments: A cappella
Published: 1794
Description: Published in The Continental Harmony, 1794, pp. 42-47. Words adapted by Billings from Isaiah Chapter 1.
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
Hear, hear, O heavens,
And give ear, O earth,
For the Lord hath spoken.
"I have nourished and brought up children,
And they have rebelled against Me,
Ah! Sinful nation!
The ox knows his owner,
The ass his master's crib,
But Israel does not know,
My people doth not consider;
Ah! Sinful nation!
A people laden with iniquity,
A seed of evildoers.
Children that are corrupters,
They have forsaken the Lord.
They have provoked the Holy One of Israel to anger.
Ah! Sinful nation!
Wash ye, make ye clean,
Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes.
Cease to do evil,
Learn to do well,
Seek judgment,
Relieve the oppressed,
Judge the fatherless.
Plead for the widow,
Do justice,
Love mercy,
Walk humbly before God.
Come now, let us reason together," saith the Lord.
"Though your sins be as scarlet,
They shall be as wool.
Though they be red like crimson,
Yet they shall be as white as snow."