WAR AGAINST BABYLON.
Reading edition
(AIR.—NOVELLO.)
"War against Babylon!" shout we around, Be our banners through earth unfurled; Rise up, ye nations, ye kings, at the sound— "War against Babylon!" shout thro' the world! Oh thou, that dwellest on many waters,[1] Thy day of pride is ended now; And the dark curse of Israel's daughters Breaks like a thundercloud over thy brow! War, war, war against Babylon!
Make bright the arrows, and gather the shields,[2] Set the standard of God on high; Swarm we, like locusts, o'er all her fields. "Zion" our watchword, and "vengeance" our cry! Woe! woe!—the time of thy visitation[3] Is come, proud land, thy doom is cast— And the black surge of desolation Sweeps o'er thy guilty head, at last! War, war, war against Babylon!
[1] "Oh thou that dwellest upon many waters…thine end is come."—Jer. li. 13.
[2] "Make bright the arrows; gather the shields…set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon"—Jer. li. 11, 12.
[3] "Woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation!"—Jer. l. 27.