Metrical 'Old Version' (John Hopkins)
English text
1 Ye people all, with one accord
Clap hands, shout, and rejoice,
Be glad, and sing unto the Lord
With sweet and pleasant voice;
2 For high the Lord and dreadful is,
His wonders manifold.
A mighty King he is likewise
In all the earth extoll'd.
3 The people shall he make to be
Unto our bondage thrall,
And underneath our feet shall he
The nations make to fall:
4 For us the heritage he chose,
Which we possess alone;
The excellency of Jacob,
His well-beloved one.
5 Our God ascended up on high
With joy and pleasant noise;
The Lord goes up above the sky
With trumpet's royal voice.
6 Sing praises to our God, sing praise,
Sing praises to our King;
For God is King of all the earth,
All skilful praises sing.
7 God o'er the heathen reigns, and sits
Upon his holy throne;
The princes of the people have
Them joined every one
8 To Abraham's people: for our God,
Who is exalted high,
As with a buckler doth defend
The earth continually.
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Metrical 'New Version' (Tate/Brady)
English text
1-2 O all ye people, clap your hands,
And with triumphant voices sing;
No force the mighty power withstands
Of God, the universal King.
3-4 He shall opposing nations quell,
And with success our battles fight,
Shall fix the place where we must dwell,
The pride of Jacob, his delight.
5-6 God is gone up, our Lord and King,
With shouts of joy and trumpet's sound;
To him repeated praises sing,
And let the cheerful song go round.
7-8 Your utmost skill in praise be shown,
For him, who all the world commands;
Who sits upon his righteous throne,
And spreads his sway o'er heathen lands.
9 Our chiefs and tribes that far from hence,
To serve the God of Abr'am came,
Found him their constant sure defence:
How great and glorious is his name!
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Metrical paraphrase by Isaac Watts
English text
1 O for a shout of sacred joy
To God the sov'reign king!
Let every land their tongues employ,
And hymns of triumph sing.
2 Jesus our God ascends on high;
His heav'nly guards around
Attend him rising through the sky,
With trumpets' joyful sound.
3 While angels shout and praise their king,
Let mortals learn their strains;
Let all the earth his honour sing;
O'er all the earth he reigns.
4 Rehearse his praise with awe profound,
Let knowledge lead the song,
Nor mock him with a solemn sound
Upon a thoughtless tongue.
5 In Israel stood his ancient throne,
He lov'd that chosen race;
But now he calls the world his own,
And heathens taste his grace.
6 The British islands are the Lord's,
There Abraham's God is known,
While pow'rs, and princes, shields and swords,
Submit before his throne.
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