I once was a stranger to grace and to God,

I knew not my danger and felt not my load;

Though friends spoke in rapture of Christ on the tree,

Jehovah Tsidkenu was nothing to me.

I ‘oft read with pleasure to soothe or engage

Isaiah’s wild measure and John’s simple page,

But e’en when they pictured the blood sprinkled tree,

Jehovah Tsidkenu seemed nothing to me.

When free grace awoke me by light from on high

Then legal fears shook me, I trembled to die.

No refuge, no safety in self could I see;

Jehovah Tsidkenu my Savior must be.

My terrors all vanished before the sweet Name,

My guilty fear banished with boldness I came,

To drink of the fountain life giving and free;

Jehovah Tsidkenu is all things to me.

Jehovah Tsidkenu! My treasure and boast;

Jehovah Tsidkenu! I ne’er can be lost;

In Thee shall I conquer by flood and by field;

My cable, my anchor, my breastplate and shield.

The world hears no longer the sound of all mirth.

The voice of the bridegroom is gone from the earth,

Jehovah Tsidkenu has sealed all His own

To wake with His likeness and know they are home.

E’en treading the valley, the shadow of death,

This “watchword” shall rally my faltering breath.

For while from life’s fever my God sets me free.

Jehovah Tsidkenu my death song shall be!

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