× Upcoming Concert Welcome Artistic Leadership Fanfare Magazine Tickets + Events Watch Listen Donate Board of Directors & Administration Staff Past Concerts
R. Nathaniel DETT
The Ordering of Moses

THE ORDERING OF MOSES
Text based on scripture and folklore

The Word
All Israel’s children sorely sighed,

Chorus
By reason of their bondage—

The Word
And unto God they sorely cried,

Chorus
By reason of their bondage—

The Word
All Israel’s children sighed—
And unto God they cried—
’Neath Egypt’s king they hard were tried—

Chorus
By reason of their bondage.

The Voice of Israel
O Lord, behold my affliction.
My heart is turned within me;
A dark’ning cloud is Thy anger,
Thy hand is hard against me.
My eyes and heart fail with grieving;
I walk alone in deep shadows.
Oppressed and captive is Judah;
And Zion sigheth in her mourning.

Chorus
O Lord!

Trio, Chorus
God looked on Israel,
And heard her children groaning;
He looked on her children groaning,
And had respect unto her.
Mercy, Lord!

Chorus
And from a burning bush, flaming,
God spake unto Moses saying—
Go down, Moses,
Way down in Egypt’s land;
Tell Pharaoh
Let my people go!
Thou shalt lead thy people
To the promised land.
Go down, take thy rod in thy hand
Thou shalt lead thy people
To the promised land.

Moses
Lord!
Who am I to go unto Pharaoh,
And why should I lead the children of Israel!
How shall they know Thou sendest me?
What name shall I say unto them?
What signs or wonders show?
I am not eloquent;
Have no gift of speech;
Am slow of tongue.

Chorus
And God spake unto Moses,
Spake unto Moses saying—

The Voice of God
Who hath made a man dumb,
Or who hath made his mouth speak?
Is it not I, Jehovah?
God of your fathers?
Now therefore, go,
And I will be thy mouth.
I will instruct thee
What thou shalt say!
Now therefore go!

Chorus
Jehovah! Jehovah! God of your fathers?
Now therefore go, and I will be thy mouth;
I will instruct thee what thou shalt say.
Go down, Moses,
Way down in Egypt’s land.
Tell Pharaoh
Let my people go!
Thou shalt lead thy people
To the promised land,
I’ve looked on Israel,
And I have respect unto her.

MEDITATION OF MOSES
The Word, Chorus
And when they reached the other shore—
O hallelujah—
They sang a song of triumph o’er
O hallelujah!

Moses
I will praise Jehovah,
For he hath triumphed gloriously;
The horse and his rider
He has o’er thrown in the midst of the sea!
He is my God and I will praise Him;
He has become the rock of my salvation.

Chorus
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
Let us praise Jehovah.

The Word
Then did the women of Israel
Gather with timbrels and dances;
And Miriam, gifted with prophecy,
Answered exhorting them, saying—

Miriam
Come, let us praise Jehovah,
For His triumph is glorious;
The clouds and fire are his chariots,
The winds and waves obey Him.
Now all the armies of Pharaoh
Are sunk as stones in deep waters.
The deeps stood up as the mountains,
When Thou didst blow Thy breath upon them.

The Women
Hallelujah, hallelujah!

Moses
Sing ye to Jehovah,
For He hath triumphed gloriously.

Chorus
Thy right hand, O Lord,
Is become glorious in power:
Pharaoh’s hosts thou hast cast
In the depths of the sea!

Moses
Sing ye
Praise to Jehovah,
Sing ye.

Chorus
He is King of kings;
He is Lord of lords.
Sing together, praise Jehovah,
Great God of our fathers.
God, the great I Am That I Am;
Hallelujah,
He is a Man of War.
Mighty is Jehovah,
Mighty in battle;
No god doth wonders like Him.
Praise the Lord.
Sing to Jehovah,
Whose right hand is our salvation.

Moses
O praise ye,
Praise Jehovah,
Praise His holy name!

Miriam
O praise ye,
Praise ye Jehovah,
Praise His holy name!

Chorus
He is King of kings,
He is Lord of lords.
Sing together, praise Jehovah,
Great God of our fathers.
God, the Great I Am That I Am,
Hallelujah,
He is a Man of War.
Mighty is Jehovah,
Mighty in battle—
No god doth wonders like Him,
Praise the Lord,
Sing to Jehovah,
Whose right hand is our salvation.
O praise the Lord!

Moses
I will sing unto Jehovah,
For He hath triumphed gloriously.

Miriam
The horse and his rider
He hath thrown into the sea!

Moses
Jehovah is my strength and my song!

Miriam
And He is become my salvation!

Moses
He is my God, and I will praise Him!

Miriam
My fathers’ God, and I will exalt Him.

Moses
Thou, Lord, in Thy loving kindness
Hast led the people, whom Thou hast redeemed!

Miriam and Moses
Jehovah shall reign forever and ever!