Lyrics · Zephaniah
He Will Stretch Out His Hand
Zephaniah 2:4-3:8
[West]
Gaza is forsaken, Ashkelon made still,
Ashdod driven out at noon from the hill.
Ekron uprooted, the seacoast made bare,
The remnant of Judah will pasture there.
[East]
Moab's reproach and Ammon's proud threat
Return like Sodom, a wasteland of nettles.
They magnified themselves against God's own land;
Their idols grow lean, no boasting can stand.
[South]
The sword reaches Cush in the far-stretching plain,
No distance can cancel the measure of gain.
[North]
He stretches his hand against Assyria's crown,
Makes Nineveh dry where the rivers ran down.
Pelican and owl rest high in the beams,
A city that said, “None beside me,” now dreams
Only in ruin, with beasts at the gate,
Every passer hisses at desolate state.
[Chorus]
He will stretch out his hand,
West, east, south, and north.
The proud city learns what its violence is worth.
No coast and no fortress can shelter a throne
That magnifies self and forgets God alone.
He will stretch out his hand,
And the map becomes witness:
The Judge of the nations is not moved by distance.
[Jerusalem Movement]
Woe to the filthy, polluted, oppressing city,
She obeyed not the voice and received no correction.
Princes are lions, judges are wolves,
Prophets are light, priests violate holy things.
[Bridge]
The just LORD remains in the middle,
Morning by morning he brings judgment to light.
Cities were cut off, towers desolated,
Yet the corrupt rose early to ruin their ways.
[Final Chorus]
He will stretch out his hand,
And gather the kingdoms to pour out the fire.
The proud city learns the end of desire.
No coast and no fortress can shelter a throne
That magnifies self and forgets God alone.
He will stretch out his hand,
West, east, south, and north;
The earth bears the weight of the Judge coming forth.
[Coda]
Every direction led back
To the same righteous throne.

