O God, Thou hast cast us off, Thou hast scattered us, Thou hast been displeased; O turn Thyself to us again.
Psalm 60:1
Words: Joel Barlow, Psalms Carefully Suited to the Christian Worship in the United States of America, Being Dr. Watts’ Imitation of the Psalms of David, as Improved by Mr. Barlow (Hartford, Connecticut: Nathaniel Patten, printer, 1785), pages 104–05, alt. Looking to God in the Distress of War.
Music: Old Martyrs Psalms (Edinburgh, Scotland: 1615) (🔊 pdf nwc).
Alternate Tunes:
Lord Thou hast scourged our guilty land,
Behold Thy people mourn;
Shall vengeance ever guide Thy hand?
And mercy ne’er return?
Beneath the terrors of Thine eye,
Earth’s haughty towers decay;
Thy frowning mantle spreads the sky,
And mortals melt away.
Our Zion trembles at Thy stroke,
And dreads Thy lifted hand!
Oh, heal the people Thou hast broke,
And save the sinking land.
Exalt Thy banner in the field,
For those that fear Thy name;
From barbarous hosts our nation shield,
And put our foes to shame.
Attend our armies to the fight,
And be their guardian God;
In vain shall numerous powers unite,
Against Thy lifted rod.
Our troops beneath Thy guiding hand,
Shall gain a glad renown:
’Tis God who makes the feeble stand,
And treads the mighty down.