God the Lord is King: before Him
Earth with all thy nations, wait!
Where the cherubim adore Him,
Sitteth He in royal state:
He is holy; He is Holy;
Blessèd, only Potentate!
God the Lord is King of glory,
Zion, tell the world His fame;
Ancient Israel, the story
Of His faithfulness proclaim:
He is holy; He is holy;
Holy is His aweful Name.
In old times when dangers darkened,
When, invoked by priest and seer,
To His people’s cry He hearkened,
Answered them in all their fear;
He is holy, He is holy;
As they called, they found Him near.
Laws divine to them were spoken
From the pillar of the cloud;
Sacred precepts, quickly broken!
Fiercely then His vengeance flowed:
He is holy; He is holy;
To the dust their hearts were bowed.
But their Father God forgave them
When they sought His face once more:
Ever ready was to save them,
Tenderly did He restore:
He is holy; He is holy;
We too will His grace implore.
God in Christ is all forgiving,
Waits His promise to fulfill;
Come, exalt Him, all the living,
Come, ascend His holy hill;
He is holy; He is holy;
Worship at His holy hill.