Verse 1
Lord of hosts we look to thee,
To thee in faith we call,
Terrible in majesty
Thou reignest over all,
Thy great arm salvation brings,
Thou o’er-rul’st th’ imbattled powers,
Giv’st the victory to kings—
O give it now to ours!
Verse 2
Sovereign Arbiter arise,
His lawful right maintain,
Blast and scatter with thine eyes
Whoe’er oppose his reign:
All their strength o’erturn, o’erthrow,
Knap[1] their spears, and break their swords,
Make the daring rebels know
The battle is the Lord’s.
Verse 3
Not by many or by few
Art thou restrain’d to save:
They shall all their foes subdue
Who thee their helper have;
Let the world their powers engage,
Rome’s and hell’s whole conclave join,
Calm we meet their utmost rage,
If arm’d with strength divine.
Verse 4
O Almighty God of love,
Appear on Israel’s side,
Send us succour from above,
Who in thine aid confide:
Lo! We trust in thee alone,
On thy single arm depend,
Jesus help, and save thine own,
And save us to the end.
[1] Knap is an archaic synonym for “knock.” Wesley used “Snap” in a 1746 journal entry quoting the hymn.