The Choir sing.
Children of Aaron, go—depart;
In never more illustrious cause
Battled the zeal of your progenitors.
Children of Aaron, go—depart;
It is your king, your God, for whom ye fight.

One voice alone.
Where are those thunderbolts Thou launchest,
Great God, in Thy just wrath?
Art Thou no more the jealous God?
Art Thou no longer the avenger?

Another,
Where, God of Jacob, are Thy former favours?
Amid the horrors, that encompass us,
Hearest Thou alone the voice
Of our iniquities?
Art Thou no longer the forgiving God?

The Choir.
Where, God of Jacob, are Thy former favours?

One voice alone.
It is against Thyself that in this strife
The armies of the wicked aim assault.
Come let us cause to cease, say they,
God's festivals upon the earth;
And from His tiresome yoke deliver man:
Let all His saints be slaughtered;
His altars overthrown;
That of His name and glory
No memory may be left;
That neither He, nor Christ may reign o'er us.

The Choir.
Where are the thunderbolts Thou launchest,
Great God, in Thy just wrath?
Art Thou no more the jealous God?
Art Thou no longer the avenger?

One voice alone.
Sad remnant of our kings,
Dear and last bloom of such a beauteous stem,
Ah! 'neath the dagger of a cruel dam
Shall we, a second time, behold thee fall?
Say, did an angel at thy cradle side,
Beloved prince! against thy murderers
Defend thee with his care;
Or in the darkness of the tomb
Did God re-animate thy ashes?

Another.
Dost Thou, great God, impute the guilty deeds
Of father and grandfather unto him?
Abandon him without relenting pity?

The Choir.
Where, God of Jacob, are Thy former favours?
Art Thou no longer the forgiving God?

One of the daughters of the Choir (speaking).
Dear sisters, hear you not the sound
Of the fierce Tyrians' trumpet?


SALOMITH.
I even hear the barbarous soldiers' cries,
And I shiver with horror.
Come, let us fly to our refuge
Under the sanctuary's shadow.