1 Stand up, O God, be present now,
And all who hate You, let them run
Like driven smoke, like melting wax,
Bound for destruction, doomed to die.
But let the righteous sing and dance,
Yes, sing and dance and shout for joy
For He who rides upon the clouds
Is coming, as He came of old.
His justice vindicates the oppressed,
He frees the prisoner, brings him home.
Stand up, O God, be present now,
And we will sing and shout for joy.

2 Stand up, O God, be present now,
As once on Sinai You were heard
By those who left the prison's chain,
Who crossed the sea and faced the sand.
They ate the manna, drank from springs
Provided by Your gracious love.
They watched as mighty armies fled,
And so they gained the promised land.
Now marching on to Zion's mount,
We see the heavenly hosts descend.
Stand up, O God, be present now,
And we will sing and shout for joy.

3 Stand up, O God, be present now,
And we, Your people, will rejoice,
For You have saved us from the pit,
For You have brought us back from death.
So, to Your holy place, we come
With choirs and music, young and old.
Rebuke the godless, cast them down
Till humbled, they for mercy call,
Then we shall listen for Your voice
As riding through the heavens You come.
Stand up, O God, be present now,
And we will sing and shout for joy.

Paraphrase of Psalm 68, Michael Saward
© Michael Saward/Jubilate Hymns.
LM TER