Lyrics
Angels on the Ladder
God rules tower, ladder, tree, and heaven
Verse
Come, let us build a tower! cried
The men of Shynar in their pride;
Its top shall reach to heaven's height;
We'll make a name in all men's sight!
They sought to climb; the Lord came down
And scattered them from Babbel's town;
Their tongues confounded, friend from friend,
The tower never reached its end.
Chorus
Though tower, ladder, tree be set,
In latter days God rules them yet;
The Lord is in this place of dread,
And heaven opens overhead.
Verse
When Jacob fled his brother's wrath,
A stone his pillow by the path,
He dreamed a ladder on the ground,
Whose top reached heaven, glory-crowned;
Ascending and descending there,
God's angels walked that holy stair;
Then Jacob woke from sleep in fear:
How dreadful! Heaven's gate is here!
Chorus
Though tower, ladder, tree be set,
In latter days God rules them yet;
The Lord is in this place of dread,
And heaven opens overhead.
Verse
The king became a tree, and grew;
Its height reached up to heaven too;
Within its branches fowls would nest;
It fed all flesh and gave them rest.
Is not this Babylon I built?
Like Babbel, blind to pride and guilt;
Cut down, he raised his eyes, and then
He knew the heavens rule all men.
Chorus
Though tower, ladder, tree be set,
In latter days God rules them yet;
The Lord is in this place of dread,
And heaven opens overhead.
Verse
In Babylon, hear Babel's name;
Her sins reach heaven, not her fame;
Unclean and hateful fowls there dwell,
And all are fed, the bad as well;
God's angels come through heaven's door
On saints who do his works once more;
Come out of her! the Lord will call;
Then Babylon the great must fall.
Chorus
Though tower, ladder, tree be set,
In latter days God rules them yet;
The Lord is in this place of dread,
And heaven opens overhead.
Bridge
What men set up, God uses still:
The fowls are fed, as is his will;
It serves as heaven's gate and way
For angels down to saints who pray.
Chorus
Though tower, ladder, tree be set,
In latter days God rules them yet;
The Lord is in this place of dread,
And heaven opens overhead.
Music and lyrics: Public Domain / CC0 1.0 Universal · Sound recording: Public Domain / CC0 1.0 Universal.