Hand Above the Altar

Lyrics

[Intro] I counted every promise carved into the stone Every little kingdom built to stand alone You raised your hands for mercy, then sharpened them for war Now I have no patience left to open one more door [Verse 1] You taught the child to measure worth in gold You sold the river twice, then blamed the rain for growing old You crowned the loudest liar, called the silence peace Then asked the sky for shelter when the thunder found release I watched you turn a neighbor into numbers on a page I watched you feed the furnace, then complain about the flame You made a shrine of appetite, a law of taking more Now hear the verdict thunder through the marrow of the floor [Pre-Chorus] Do not kneel now Do not dress your fear as faith I heard you laughing When the innocent called my name [Chorus] I am the hand above the altar I am the bell that will not cease Your borrowed hour is finished Your little wars have purchased peace No more excuses, no more pleading No more masks beneath the sun I gave you every chance to change You chose the blade, so face what you have done [Verse 2] You built your towers out of hunger, glass, and stolen breath Then called the ones beneath them fortunate in debt You painted over every wound until the walls looked clean But blood remembers color, and I know what you have seen You made a god of progress, made a cage of every mind Turned the weak into a warning and the lonely into kindling You begged me for a miracle, then buried every sign Now I will answer plainly: this ending is by design [Pre-Chorus] Do not reach now Do not call the storm unfair You had the garden You chose the smoke and empty prayer [Chorus] I am the hand above the altar I am the bell that will not cease Your borrowed hour is finished Your little wars have purchased peace No more excuses, no more pleading No more masks beneath the sun I gave you every chance to change You chose the blade, so face what you have done [Bridge] [Choir] Judgment is rising Judgment is near [Lead] I am not anger without reason I am the weight of every year Every mother left abandoned Every promise sold for fear [Choir] Judgment is rising Judgment is near [Lead] If mercy was a road before you You paved it over, brick by brick Now when the gates of heaven close Do not pretend the lock was quick [Breakdown] Stand beneath the ash Stand beneath the red Count the names you traded Count the lives you shed No crown can hide you No throne can make you clean The god you kept demanding Is the god you finally meet [Final Chorus] I am the hand above the altar I am the bell that splits the sky Your borrowed hour is finished There is nowhere left to hide No more excuses, no more pleading No more masks beneath the sun I gave you every chance to change You chose the blade, so face what you have done [Outro] When the last proud tower falls And the dust forgets your name I will keep the ones you wounded You will keep the weight of flame I am finished asking gently I am finished waiting here Let the silence take the measure Let the end make itself clear