The Sin of Achan + 

Night closed o’er the battling army, + 

But it brought them no success; + 

Victory perched not on their banners; + 

Night was full of weariness. + 

Flushed and hopeful in the morning, + 

Turned they from their leader’s side: + 

Routed, smitten and defeated, + 

Came they back at eventide. + 

Then in words of bitter mourning + 

Joshua’s voice soon arose: + 

“Tell us, O thou God of Jacob, + 

Why this triumph of our foes?” + 

To his pleading came the answer + 

Why the hosts in fear did yield: + 

“ ’Twas because a fearful trespass + 

’Mid their tents did lie concealed.” + 

Clear and plain before His vision, + 

With whom darkness is as light, + 

Lay the spoils that guilty Achan + 

Covered from his brethren’s sight. + 

From their tents they purged the evil + 

That had ruin round them spread; + 

Then they won the field of battle, + 

Whence they had in terror fled. + 

Through the track of many ages + 

Comes this tale of woe and crime; + 

Let us read it as a lesson + 

And a warning for our time. + 

Oh, for some strong-hearted Joshua! + 

Faithful to his day and time, + 

Who will wholly rid the nation + 

Of her clinging curse and crime. + 

Till she writes on every banner + 

All beneath these folds are free, + 

And the oppressed and groaning millions + 

Shout the nation’s Jubilee. + 