He there fore bade them all repent,
And turn from all their sin,
And humbly to Jehovah pray,
To stay His wrath divine.

The time wore on, the ark progress'd,
And Noah grew more bold;
And to the people day by day,
God's threatened judgment told.

They heeded not his solemn words,
Nor mark'd his tearful eye;
But still continued in their sin
Against the Lord most high.

They mock'd him with their taunting speech,
And call'd him foolish, vain,
To think that God would drown the earth
And men in floods of rain.

They look'd up to the heavens above,
No threatening clouds were there;
They laugh'd, they sang, they danced in pride,
Nor thought of God, or prayer.

All things remained the same to them,
For nearly six score years;
Why should they have distress of mind,
Or yield their soul to fears?