Ah! where shall now the sinner hide—

what power the storm can stay?

What pleasing charm can he call up

To drive his fears away?

Who can withstand the wrath of God!

He with a single breath,

Could vanquish all our boasted strength,

And visit us with death.

He gathers now His angry clouds,

And thick they quickly come;

Bearing along the teeming rains

And the devouring storm.

The beauteous sky is overcast.

And darkness fills the air;

And lightnings flash, and thunders roll;

No ray of hope is there.

As if the clouds are not enough,

Heaven's windows open wide,

To pour upon the startled earth

The overflowing tide.

The clouds come down almost to earth,

And seem to bend with rain;

And men look up with fearful gaze,

Nor can their fear restrain.

Oh! fearful and majestic scene;

Jehovah's awful frown

Seems o'er the sinfulness of earth,

In anger bending down.

No sun now cheers, no light of star

To those shall ever come,

Who by their long continued crimes,

Provoked this awful doom.