Author: Steele Hymnal: A Selection of Hymns #DXXXI (1792) Meter: 8.8.8.8 Topics: National prayer and praise; Praise for peace of the nation First Line: Great ruler of the earth and skies Lyrics: 1 Great ruler of the earth and skies,
A word of thine almighty breath
Can sink the world, or bid it rise:
Thy smile is life, thy frown is death.
2 When angry nations rush to arms,
And rage, and noise, and tumult reign,
And war resounds its dire alarms,
And slaughter dyes the hostile plains;
3 Thy sovereign eye looks calmly down,
And marks their course, and bounds their pow'r;
Thy word the angry nations own,
And noise and war are heard no more.
4 Then peace returns with balmy wing,
(Sweet peace! with her what blessings fled!)
Glad plenty laughs, the vallies sing,
Reviving commerce lifts her head.
5 Thou good, and wise, and righteous Lord,
All move subservent to thy will;
And peace and war await thy word,
And thy sublime decrees fulfil.
6 To thee we pay our grateful songs,
Thy kind protection still implore?
O may our hearts, and lives, and tongues,
Confess thy goodness and adore. Scripture: Psalm 46:9 Languages: English
Praise for national peace