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.