Dark and dreary was the Egyptian night,
And God spoke to Moses, “ Tell the people,
Against the gods of Egypt stark judgement will I bring
For tonight, at the stroke of midnight, Egypt’s firstborn I will smite.
But throughout the land of Goshen supreme let this song ring
Jehovah has willed the freedom of His people.
Kill an unblemished lamb, offer sacrifice to Me
The blood of that young lamb shall be your sign
Strike the blood on the door post, on the lintel of your house
This token that you’ve been set apart, you’ve been chosen, You
are mine.
And when I see the blood, I will pass over you.”
Still was the night, yes, hushed,
In tawny, dreary, dark Gethsemane.
Jehovah the freedom of His people had willed.
Despised, rejected, afflicted, oppressed,
Behold Him-the spotless Lamb- forlorn, and agonizing
Large droplets of blood from His forehead seeping
Against the tawdry gods of sin
Stark judgement He would bring.
But first, alone, the solitary path to Calvary he trod
Contemned, condemned, Jesus shed his blood.
Dwelling with us, He died, the unblemished Lamb of God.
Today, if you will hear His voice
Accept His sacrifice
For, in judgement, when He sees the blood He will pass over you.
Dark and dreary drones this tawdry world of sin.
Against the chintzy gods of evil, God must soon arise.
But in the hearts of those who serve Him let this song ring,
Jehovah has willed the freedom of His people-
This the yearning for which, while groaning, all creation cries
-This the sublime hope that joyous in our being lies.
Strike the blood on the door post, on the lintel of your heart.
This proof you’ve been chosen, you are set apart,
This sign that you are His,
And in the judgement,
There will be, for you, no dark lament,
For when He sees the blood, He will pass over you.