But Balaam declared that if Balak would give Him his house full of silver and gold, The word of the Lord he could _not_ go beyond, To do _more_ or do less than he's told.
Still the bait was quite tempting, and Balaam was weak, And wicked he certainly proved; E'en the Ass that he rode, _that_ man's conduct condemned, Who the gains of unrighteousness loved.
In the country of Moab at length he arrives, And King Balak hath met face to face, Who requests that with him a high hill he'd ascend, And the Israelites curse from that place.
Three times seven altars were raised to the Lord, And three times was the sacrifice made; But the curse was withheld, for whom _God_ pronounced blest, Even _Balaam_ to _curse_ was afraid.
Poor Balaam, thy case is a hard one indeed; Like a house that's divided thou art; Both thy Maker and Mammon thou gladly would'st serve, But the former requires thy whole heart.
"Let me die the death of the righteous," say'st thou, "And my last end like his let it be;" But if like the righteous _unwilling to live_, _Never hope like the righteous to die_.
Though life is young, and spirits gay, And hope thy fond heart cheers; Though friends are kind, and health is firm, And death _far off_ appears,
Yet think not happiness like this, Is destined long to last; For ere to-morrow morn, perhaps, Thy sky may be o'ercast.
Ah! let not pleasure blind thy eyes, Or flattery lure thy heart; But in the morning of thy life, Secure the better part.
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.
"That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life."
What means that cry of anguish, That strikes the distant ear; The loud and piercing wailing, In desert wilds we hear?
From Israel's camp it cometh, For Israel hath rebelled; And these are cries of anguish, By wrath of God impelled.
It is no common sorrow, Extorts that bitter groan; 'Tis from the broken hearted, And caused by sin alone.
Lo! in the far off desert, Upon that tented ground, Are many hundred thousands Of weary travellers found.
In desert of Arabia, Near forty years they roam; And soon they are to enter "Canaan their happy home."
But come with me and visit A people so distressed; They are the seed that Jacob When dying pronounced blessed.