Joshua slept and the fire burned low

The tribes turned back to the gods below

They left old thorns in the wounded land

And bowed to idols made by hand

Smoke on the hills and shame in the air

They broke the vow they were called to bear

The enemy came and the people cried

And the Lord sent help in the dark of night

They fell, they wept, they cried to the sky again

He heard, he moved, and raised up a judge for them

Again and again they fell in the dust

Again and again they traded their trust

Mercy like thunder, judgment like flame

He pulled them out and they turned again

No king in the land, no fear in their eyes

Each man chose what he called right

Again and again through sorrow and fire

They did what was right

In their own eyes

A left hand rose with a hidden blade

An ox goat struck where the foe had stayed

Deborah called and the riders came

A tent stake fell and it ended shame

Gideon shook by the winepress wall

Still the Lord was over all

Trumpets blew and the jaws broke wide

And fear ran wild in the enemy line

Again and again they fell in the dust

Again and again they traded their trust

Mercy like thunder, judgment like flame

He pulled them out and they turned again

No king in the land, no fear in their eyes

Each man chose what he called right

Again and again through sorrow and fire

They did what was right in their own eyes

Bow came down but the dark stayed near

Gold turned false and blood drew near

A vow was made and sorrow stayed

Strong hands fell where a woman swayed

Eyes went dark in the prison hall

Then pillars shook and the stronghold fell

But the land was sick and the truth ran dry

Still every man chose his own right

Again and again they fell in the dust

Again and again they traded their trust

Mercy like thunder, judgment like flame

He pulled them out and they turned again

No king in the land, no truth in their eyes

Each man loved his own device

Again and again

Till the whole land broke

They did what was right

In their own eyes

Silver and idols

A wandering priest

A woman forsaken, her land diseased

Brother on brother, smoking the sky

And every man did what was right

In his own eyes