Prayer of the Oppressed

Prayer of the Oppressed

List, list, the notes of anguish

From yonder arid plains,

Where millions groan and languish

'Neath slavery's galling chains.

To Heaven, with look imploring,

They urge their earnest prayer,

With humble hearts adoring

The God that reigneth there.

Thou Universal Sovereign,

Who didst all men create,

Worthy supreme to govern

Thy creatures small and great;

Didst thou not make the nations

Of kindred rights and blood?

Though differing wide their stations,

Yet servants all, of God.

Behold, what ills betide us!

What sorrows whelm our souls!

See, tyrants fierce divide us,

While crushed in Slavery's folds!

How long, O Lord, most gracious,

Wilt thou not hear our cry -

Thy promises are precious;

O, help us, lest we die.

To thee, with strong beseeching,

To thee, with earnest cries,

To thee, our hands forth reaching,

To thee, with broken sighs,

To thee, our only shelter,

We look, we pray, we flee,

In chains and blood we welter;

O come and set us free.

Fulfill what thou hast spoken,

Soon, soon, let Slavery cease,

And every fetter broken,

Announce the glad release.

O then, thy great salvation

We'll joyfully proclaim,

Till every land and nation,

Revere and love thy name.

Unattributed

2:26, p. 102

1838.08.18

From the Emancipator