Scripture Verse

O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is. Psalm 63:1

Introduction

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James Montgomery (1771–1854)
National Portrait Gallery

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Words: James Mont­go­me­ry, 1822.

Music: Sa­ratt Geoff­rey C. E. Ry­ley, 1904 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

Lyrics

O God, Thou art my God alone;
Early to Thee my soul shall cry;
A pilgrim in a land unknown,
A thirsty land whose springs are dry.

O that it were as it hath been!
When, praying in the holy place,
Thy power and glo­ry I have seen,
And marked the footsteps of Thy grace.

Yet, through this rough and thorny maze,
I follow hard on Thee, my God;
Thy hand, unseen, upholds my ways;
I safely tread where Thou hast trod.

Thee, in the watches of the night,
When I remember on my bed;
Thy presence makes the darkness light,
Thy guardian wings are round my head.

Better than life itself Thy love,
Dearer than all beside to me;
For whom have I in Hea­ven above,
Or what on earth, compared to Thee?

Praise with my heart, my mind, my voice,
For all Thy mercy I will give;
My soul shall still in God rejoice;
My tongue shall bless Thee while I live.