Scripture Verse

The Lord is my light and my salvation. Psalm 27:1

Introduction

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James Montgomery (1771–1854)
National Portrait Gallery

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Words: James Mont­gom­ery, Songs of Zi­on, Be­ing Imi­ta­tions of Psalms 1822.

Music: Au­rel­ia Sam­uel S. Wes­ley, in A Se­lect­ion of Psalms and Hymns, by Charles Kem­ble (Lon­don: John F. Shaw, 1864), num­ber 122 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

  • Wedlock tra­di­tion­al Am­eri­can tune, in The Sac­red Harp, 1844 (🔊 pdf nwc)
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Samuel S. Wesley (1810–1876)

Lyrics

God is my strong sal­va­tion:
What foe have I to fear?
In dark­ness and temp­tation,
My light, my help is near.
Though hosts en­camp around me,
Firm in the fight I stand.
What ter­ror can con­found me,
With God at my right hand?

Place on the Lord re­li­ance;
My soul, with cour­age, wait.
His truth will be my sus­te­nance,
When faint and de­so­late.
His might my heart shall strength­en,
His love my joy in­crease.
Mercy my days shall length­en;
The Lord will give me peace.