Zephaniah

One day, God will reign,
rescuing the captives
from this strange land where we cry for help.
Woe to all who oppress with their wealth,
God will deal out the justice Herself.

With God at our sides
We’re running toward the Motherland,
Where earth’s kings are all overthrown.
And Love has dismantled the throne.
You don’t have to work for this alone.

Gather up, gather up,
Gather up the exiles
everywhere they’ve suffered shame,
Honor, family, and praise,
return to us in sevenfold 
before our very eyes.

Don’t hang up your harps,
Strum a song of freedom
For your family to join in the song.
Bend your ear, you’ll hear God sing along,
When your voice is weak, Hers will be strong.

Gather up, gather up,
Gather up the exiles
everywhere they’ve suffered shame,
Honor, family, and praise,
return to us in sevenfold 
before our very eyes.

Sing, Daughter Zion,
Shout aloud, Jerusalem,
Your sisters hear you in the depths.
God sings our name from heaven,
And our mother’s joy is our strength.

Gather up, gather up,
Gather up, cause we’re all going home.

Amy Cerniglia serves as Director of Music and Arts at Peace Presbyterian Church in Lakewood Ranch, FL. Her writing has been published in The Presbyterian Outlook, The American Organist, and The Hymn Society’s new collection, Songs for the Holy Other. She is a Master of Divinity student at The University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. Her wife, Leslie, is pursuing her Master of Social Work at Fordham University and teaching youth Lively Learning.