Dread Jehovah, God of Nations

Dread Jehovah, God of nations,
From Thy temple in the skies,
Hear Thy people’s supplications,
Now for their deliverance rise.

Lo, with deep contritions turning,
Humbly at Thy feet we bend;
Hear us, fasting, praying, mourning;
Hear us, spare us, and defend.

Though our sins, our hearts confounding,
Long and loud for vengeance call,
Thou hast mercy more abounding,
Jesus’ blood can cleanse from all.

Let that love veil our transgressions,
Let that blood our guilt efface:
Save Thy people from oppression,
Save from spoil Thy holy place.

Author: William Bengo Collyer

Year: 1812

This is a paraphrase of Joel 2, first published in Collyer's 1812 collection 'A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Public and Private Worship'. Some later hymnals attribute it simply as 'Anonymous' or from a 'Select Collection', but Collyer is the accepted author.