1. From Greenland’s icy mountains,From India’s coral strand;Where Afric’s sunny fountainsRoll down their golden sand;From many an ancient river,From many a palmy plain,They call us to deliverTheir land from error’s chain.
2. What though the spicy breezesBlow soft o’er Ceylon’s isle;Though ev’ry prospect pleases,And only man is vile?In vain with lavish kindnessThe gifts of God are strewn;The heathen in his blindnessBows down to wood and stone.
3. Shall we, whose souls are lightedWith wisdom from on high,Shall we, to men benighted,The lamp of life deny?Salvation! O salvation!The joyful sound proclaim,Till earth’s remotest nationHas learn’d Messiah’s name.
4. Waft, waft, ye winds, his story,And you, ye waters, roll,Till, like a sea of glory,It spreads from pole to pole;Till o’er our ransomed nature,The Lamb for sinners slain,Redeemer, King, Creator,In bliss returns to reign.