When Israel heard the fiery law

The words

1. 1

   Stanza 1. When Israel heard the fiery law,From Sinai’s top proclaimed;Their hearts seemed full of holy awe,Their stubborn spirits tamed.

2. 2

   Stanza 2. Yet, as forgetting all they knew,Ere forty days were past;With blazing Sinai still in view,A molten calf they cast.

3. 3

   Stanza 3. Yea, Aaron, God’s anointed priest,Who on the mount had beenHe durst prepare the idol–beast,And lead them on to sin.

4. 4

   Stanza 4. LORD, what is man! and what are we,To recompense thee thus!In their offence our own we see,Their story points at us.

5. 5

   Stanza 5. From Sinai we have heard thee speak,And from mount Calv’ry too;And yet to idols oft we seek,While thou art in our view.

6. 6

   Stanza 6. Some golden calf, or golden dream,Some fancied creature–good,Presumes to share the heart with him,Who bought the whole with blood.

7. 7

   Stanza 7. LORD, save us from our golden calves,Our sin with grief we own;We would no more be thine by halves,But live to thee alone.

Olney Hymns (1779), Book 1, Hymn 18. John Newton. Public domain. CCEL transcription with modernized spelling. www.praylock.com/olney-hymns/1-18