“HIDE THE OUTCASTS.”
Hide the outcasts, and bewray not
Him that wand’reth to be free;
Haste!—deliver and delay not;—
Let my outcasts dwell with thee.[[2]]
Shelter thou shalt not refuse him,
Lest, with him, his Lord ye slight;[[3]]
When, at noon, the foe pursues him,
Make thy shadow dark as night.
With thee shall he dwell, protected,
Near thee, cherished by thy side;
Though degraded, scorned, neglected,—
Thrust him not away, in pride.[[4]]
As, in truth, ye would that others
Unto you should succour lend,
So, to them, as equal brothers,
Equal love and help extend.[[5]]
Thou shalt not the slave deliver
To his master, when he flees:—
Heritage, from God, the Giver,
Yield them freely, where they please.[[6]]
As thyself,[[7]]—thy babes,—their mother,—
Thou wouldst shield from murd’rous arm,
So the slave, thy equal brother,
And his household, shield from harm.
Hearken, ye that know and fear me,[[8]]
Ye who in my law delight;
Ye that seek me, and revere me,
Hate the wrong and love the right.[[9]]
Fear ye not, when men upbraid you,
Worms shall all their strength devour;
My salvation still shall aid you,
Coming ages learn my power.
Why forget the Lord thy Maker?
Why th’ oppressor’s fury dread?
Zion’s King shall ne’er forsake her;—
Where’s th’ oppressor’s fury fled?[[10]]
Scorn the mandates of transgressors;[[11]]
Fear thy God, and fear none other;
’Gainst thyself conspire oppressors,
When they bid thee bind thy brother.
Lo! the captive exile hasteth
To be loosed from thrall, forever;[[12]]
Lo! the power of tyrants wasteth,
Perish soon,—recovered, never!
