ISAAC

I know my father is a righteous man
I honor holy Abraham

He is a good husband to my mother and will be father of the nations
God has chosen him to bring some hope for our salvation.
He is pious and devoted; therefore his kin should walk the earth
So when mother was ninety, the good Lord had her give birth.

I know my father is a righteous man
I honor holy Abraham

Father says I’m a man now, I must learn to give to God
And show the gratitude I must for being made from clay and sod.
We walk into the mountains - we walk two days, two nights
To find the perfect setting for our sacrificial rites.

We have the wood for burning, my father has his knife.
We need to catch a lamb and give to God its life
But I do not see a lamb, nor do I know where lambs would hide.
My father says, "Don’t worry, boy. Yahweh will provide."

I know my father is a righteous man
I honor holy Abraham

I look about for lambs because I trust my father’s word.
His noble faith in God has him remarkably assured.
But my father grabs me and he throws me to the ground
And without explaining why, he takes some rope and ties me down.

I know my father is a righteous man
I honor holy Abraham

Now I lie here on the mountain, I am bound and cannot move
I look into my father’s face to see if it will soothe
But Abraham only has fierce murder in his eye
I wonder if the God above has asked him that I die.

I know my father is a righteous man
I honor holy Abraham

Please God, don’t let him hurt me, I’ve so many years to live
So many prayers to say to You, so many gifts to give.
His knife will soon destroy me, he will do Your will
I am the son You gave him, but since You asked him to, he’ll kill.

I know my father is a righteous man
I honor holy Abraham

An angel stops my father; he’s proved his love and passed his test
The angel tells him to untie me and allow me a good rest.
Father is relieved and places his hand on my head.
I’ll remember all my life the day he planned to strike me dead.

I know my father is a righteous man
I honor holy Abraham
He’d even sacrifice his son
I could not do what he has done.