Scripture Verse

Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in Thy faithfulness answer me, and in Thy righteousness. Psalm 143:1

Introduction

Words: From The Psal­ter (Pitts­burgh, Penn­syl­van­ia: Unit­ed Pres­by­te­ri­an Board of Pub­li­ca­tion, 1912), num­ber 389.

Music: Den­by Charles J. Dale, 1904 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Dale (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Lord, hear me in distress,
Regard my suppliant cry,
And in Thy faith­ful­ness
And right­eous­ness reply.
In judg­ment do not cause
Thy servant to be tried;
Before Thy holy laws
No man is justified.

The enemy has sought
My soul in dust to tread;
To darkness I am brought,
Forgotten as the dead.
My spirit, crushed with grief,
Is sad and overborne;
My heart finds no relief,
But desolate I mourn.

Recalling former days
And all Thy wondrous deeds,
The memory of Thy ways
To hope and comfort leads.
To Thee I stretch my hands,
Let me not plead in vain;
I wait as weary lands
Wait for refreshing rain.

My failing spirit see,
O Lord, to me make haste;
Hide not Thy face from me,
Less bitter death I taste.
O let the morn return,
Let mercy light my day;
For Thee in faith I yearn,
O guide me in the way.

Lord, save me from my foe,
To Thee for help I flee;
Teach me Thy way to know,
I have no God but Thee.
By Thy good Spi­rit led
From trouble and distress,
My erring feet shall tread
The path of uprightness.

O Lord, for Thy name’s sake
Revive my fainting heart;
My soul from trouble take,
For just and true Thou art.
Remove mine enemy,
My cruel foes reward;
In mercy rescue me
Who am Thy servant, Lord.