Scripture Verse

I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto Thee, O Lord, will I sing. Psalm 101:1

Introduction

portrait
Isaac Watts (1674–1748)

Words: Is­aac Watts, The Psalms of Da­vid 1719. The ma­gis­trate’s psalm.

Music: Queen’s Cross Ken­neth G. Fin­lay, in The Pri­mi­tive Me­tho­dist Hym­nal Sup­ple­ment with Tunes, ed­it­ed by George Booth (Lon­don: Pri­mi­tive Me­tho­dist Pub­lish­ing House, 1912), num­ber 57 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

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

Lyrics

Mercy and judg­ment are my song;
And since they both to Thee be­long,
My gracious God, my righteous king,
To Thee my songs and vows I bring.

If I am raised to bear the sword,
I’ll take my counsels from Thy Word;
Thy justice and Thy heav’nly grace
Shall be the pattern of my ways.

Let wisdom all my actions guide
And let my God with me re­side;
No wicked thing shall dwell with me,
Which may provoke Thy jeal­ou­sy.

No sons of slander, rage, and strife
Shall be companions of my life;
The haughty look, the heart of pride
Within my doors shall ne’er abide.

I’ll search the land, and raise the just
To posts of honor, wealth, and trust:
The men that work Thy holy will
Shall be my friends and favorites still.

In vain shall sinners hope to rise
By flattering or malicious lies;
And while the innocent I guard,
The bold offender shan’t be spared.

The impious crew, that factious band,
Shall hide their heads or quit the land;
And all that break the public rest,
Where I have power shall be sup­pressed.