O sight of anguish! View it near

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General information

This is an hymn by Samson Occom, published first in William Knapp's New Church Melody, 1753. See Love (1899) and Brooks (2003).

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Text and translations

English.png English text

1. O sight of anguish! View it near,
What weeping innocence is here,
A manger for his bed!
The brutes yield refuge to his woe,
Men the worst brutes no pity show,
Nor give him friendly aid.

2. Why do no rapid thunders roll?
Why do no tempests rock the pole?
O miracle of grace!
Or why no angels on the wing,
Warm for the honors of their King,
To punish all the race?

3. Though now an infant bath'd in tears,
He called to form the rolling spheres;
And seraphs owned his nod.
Helpless he calls, but men delay;
And guilty sinners disobey
The earth-born Son of God.

4. Say, radiant seraphs, throned in light,
Did love e'er tower so high a flight,
Or glory sink so low?
This wonder angels scarce declare
Angels the rapture scarce can bear,
Or equal praise bestow.

5. Redemption! 'Tis a boundless theme!
Thou boundless mind, our hearts inflame
With ardor from above.
Words are but faint, let joy express;
Vain is mere joy, let actions bless
This prodigy of love.

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