Scripture Verse

O Lord my God, in Thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me. Psalm 7:1

Introduction

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Isaac Watts
1674–1748

Words: Is­aac Watts, The Psalms of Da­vid 1719. God’s care of His peo­ple, and pu­nish­ment of per­se­cu­tors.

Music: Grä­fen­berg Jo­hann Crü­ger, Prax­is Pi­e­ta­tis Me­li­ca 1647 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Johann Crüger
1598–1662

Lyrics

My trust is in my heavenly friend,
My hope in Thee, my God;
Rise, and my helpless life defend
From those that seek my blood.

With insolence and fury they
My soul in pieces tear,
As hungry lions rend the prey
When no deliverer’s near.

If I had e’er provoked them first,
Or once abused my foe,
Then let him tread my life to dust,
And lay mine honor low.

If there be malice found in me,
I know Thy piercing eyes;
I should not dare appeal to Thee,
Nor ask my God to rise.

Arise, my God, lift up Thy hand,
Their pride and power control;
Awake to judgment and command
Deliverance for my soul.

Let sinners and their wicked rage
Be humbled to the dust;
Shall not the God of truth engage
To vindicate the just?

He knows the heart, He tries the reins,
He will defend th’upright:
His sharpest arrows He ordains
Against the sons of spite.

For me their malice dug a pit,
But there themselves are cast;
My God makes all their mischief light
On their own heads at last.

That cruel persecuting race
Must feel His dreadful sword;
Awake, my soul, and praise the grace
And justice of the Lord.