Carmen Saeculare

The breath of Thy voice was as Freedom ! The nations did tremble with fear. The heathen, their fury forsook them ; The Moabites trembled and fled. O Lord, when Thy countenance shook them. Thy voice in the House of the Dead. O Lord ! Thou has said ! The lightnings were kindled and lightened, Thy thunder was heard on the deep ; The stars with Thy Fear shook and whitened, The sun and the moon in the steep. The sea rose in tumult and clamour, The Earth also shook with Thee then, As Thor had uplifted his hammer, And smitten the mutinous men. O ! rise Thou again ! The voice of the Lord is uplifted ; The wilderness also obeys ; The flames of the fire they are rifted ; The waves of the sea know His ways. The cedars of Lebanon hear Thee, The desert of Kadesh hath known ; The Sons of Men know Thee and fear Thee, Flee far from the Light of Thy Throne. For Thou art alone. 21