Verse 1
By whom, O God, shall Britain rise,
So small in all the nations’ eyes,
So lessen’d in her own?
Out of the deep, we cry to thee,
And with profound humility
Besiege thy gracious throne.

Verse 2
By whom, O God, shall Britain rise?
Not by th’ ignoble slaves of vice
Who have their country sold,
Betray’d us in their prosp’rous hour,
To raise a restless faction’s power,
And glut their lust of gold.

Verse 3
Not by the basest tools of war,
Who all thy plagues and judgments dare,
In oaths and blasphemies,
Ravage their friends with sword and fire,
Thro’ covetous or foul desire,
And hate the thoughts of peace.

Verse 4
By whom—but we enquire in vain,
Till thou thy own design explain,
For only Lord to thee
Thy works, before the world begun,
Thy chosen instrument were known
From all eternity.

Verse 5
Thy searching eye beholds him now:
While suppliant at thy feet we bow
To us the man be show’d,
Th’ intrepid man of virtuous zeal,
Resolv’d and incorruptible,
Who seeks our nation’s good:

Verse 6
Our nation’s good, and not his own;
While list’ning to the plaintive moan,
Of loyalty opprest,
He serves his king’s and God’s designs,
America and Britain joins,
And blends them in his breast.

Verse 7
O that he in the gap may stand,
Rais’d up to save a sinking land,
Our blessings to restore,
Concord, and peace, and loyal fear,
And truth, and piety sincere,
Till time shall be no more.

Verse 8
Then shall we, Lord, surround thy throne,
Thro’ Christ inseparably one,
United in thy praise,
And sing, with all those hosts above,
The triumphs of all-conquering love
In everlasting lays.