Scripture Verse

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. Psalm 4:1

Introduction

portrait
Isaac Watts
1674–1748

Words: Is­aac Watts, The Psalms of Da­vid 1719. Hear­ing of prayer; or, God our por­tion, and Christ our hope.

Music: An­ge­lus Ge­org Jo­seph, Heil­i­ge Seel­en­lust (Bres­lau [now Wro­cław, Po­land]: 1657) (set to the words Du mein­er Seel­en gül­dne Ziehr) (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

Lyrics

O God of grace and righteousness,
Hear and attend when I complain:
Thou hast enlarged me in distress,
Bow down a gracious ear again.

Ye sons of men, in vain ye try
To turn my glory into shame;
How long will scoffers love to lie,
And dare reproach my Savior’s name?

Know that the Lord divides His saints
From all the tribes of men beside;
He hears the cry of penitents,
For the dear sake of Christ that died.

When our obedient hands have done
A thousand works of righteousness
We put our trust in God alone,
And glory in His pardoning grace.

Let the unthinking many say,
Who will bestow some earthly good?
But Lord, Thy light and love we pray;
Our souls desire this heav’nly food.

Then shall my cheerful powers rejoice,
At grace and favors so divine;
Nor will I change my happy choice
For all their corn, and all their wine.