The Golden Calf

I

When Israel heard the fiery law
  From Sinai’s top proclaim’d,
Their hearts seem’d full of holy awe,
  Their stubborn spirits tamed:

II

Yet, as forgetting all they knew,
  Ere forty days were past,
With blazing Sinai still in view,
  A molten calf they cast.

III

Yea, Aaron, God’s anointed priest.
  Who on the mount had been,
He durst prepare the idol-beast,
  And lead them on to sin!

IV

Lord, what is man, and what are we,
  To recompense thee thus?
In their offence our own we see⁠—
  Their story points at us.

V

From Mount Sinai we heard thee speak.
  And from Mount Calv’ry too;
And yet to idols oft we seek,
  While thou art in our view.

VI

Some golden calf, or golden dream,
  Some fancied creature-good,
Presumes to share the heart with Him
  Who bought the whole with blood.

VII

Lord, save us from our golden calves,
  Our sin with grief we own;
We would no more be thine by halves,
  But live to thee alone.