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Home  »  The Standard Book of Jewish Verse  »  Jehovah-Nissi. The Lord My Banner

Joseph Friedlander, comp. The Standard Book of Jewish Verse. 1917.

By William Cowper

Jehovah-Nissi. The Lord My Banner

BY whom was David taught

To aim the deadly blow,

When he Goliath fought,

And laid the Hittite low?

Nor sword nor spear the stripling took,

But chose a pebble from the brook.

’Twas Israel’s God and King

Who sent him to the fight;

Who gave him strength to sling,

And skill to aim aright.

Ye feeble saints, your strength endures

Because young David’s God is yours.

Who ordered Gideon forth,

To storm the invaders’ camp

With arms of little worth,

A pitcher and a lamp?

The trumpets made his coming known

And all the host was overthrown.

Oh! I have seen the day

When with a single word,

God helping me to say,

“My trust is in the Lord,”

My soul hath quell’d a thousand foes,

Fearless of all that could oppose.

But unbelief, self-will,

Self-righteousness and pride,

How often do they steal

My weapon from my side!

Yet David’s Lord, and Gideon’s friend,

Will help his servant to the end.