Scripture Verse

I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. Psalm 18:21

Introduction

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Isaac Watts
1674–1748

Words: Is­aac Watts, The Psalms of Da­vid 1719. Sin­cer­i­ty proved and re­ward­ed.

Music: Brock­ham Jer­e­mi­ah Clarke, Di­vine Com­pan­ion, se­cond ed­i­tion, 1707 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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Jeremiah Clarke
ca. 1659–1707

Lyrics

Lord, Thou hast seen my soul sincere,
Hast made Thy truth and love appear;
Before mine eyes I set Thy laws,
And Thou hast owned my righteous cause.

Since I have learned Thy holy ways,
I’ve walked upright before Thy face;
Or if my feet did e’er depart,
’Twas never with a wicked heart.

What sore temptations broke my rest!
What wars and strugglings in my breast!
But through Thy grace that reigns within,
I guard against my darling sin.

That sin which close besets me still,
That works and strives against my will;
When shall Thy Spirit’s sovereign power
Destroy it, that it rise no more?

With an impartial hand, the Lord
Deals out to mortals their reward:
The kind and faithful souls shall find
A God as faithful and as kind.

The just and pure shall ever say
Thou art more pure, more just than they;
And men that love revenge shall know
God hath an arm of vengeance, too.