Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

National Penitence

Traditional

“National Penitence” as printed in The Army and Navy Hymnal (1920).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 385 1920 · historical text
Public domainHymnSacred song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Army and Navy Hymnal, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

HEAR the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel; for the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land,

Because there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land.

There is nought but swearing and breaking faith,

And killing, and stealing, and committing adultery.

Verse 2

FORASMUCH therefore as ye trample upon the poor, and take exactions from him of wheat:

Ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them;

Ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink the wine thereof.

For I know how manifold are your transgressions, and how mighty are your sins

Ye that afflict the just, that take a bribe,

And that turn aside the needy in the gate from their right.

I hate, I despise your feasts, and I will take no delight in your solemn assemblies.

Yea, though ye offer me your burnt-offerings and meat-offerings, I will not accept them;

Verse 3

Neither will I regard the peace-offerings of your fat beasts.

Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs;

For I will not hear the melody of thy viols.

But let justice roll down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.

Verse 4

REMEMBER not against us the iniquities of our forefathers:

Let thy tender mercies speedily meet us; for we are brought very low.

Help us, God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name;

And deliver us, and forgive our sins, for thy name's sake.

So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture

Will give thee thanks for ever; we will show forth thy praise to all generations.

Credits

Written by Traditional

Traditional words. Historical text published in The Army and Navy Hymnal (1920); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Army and Navy Hymnal (1920), “National Penitence”

The 1920 published edition is in the public domain in the United States (pre-1931 publication). Entries whose credited author died more than 70 years ago are also in the public domain in life-plus-70 jurisdictions; traditional and anonymous entries are public domain. Pages whose scan quality is below the proofread threshold are held for review.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-26. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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