Unto Thee will I cry, O Lord my rock.
Psalm 28:1
Words: From an early Scottish psalter. Versions of this hymn were in print in America as early as 1872.
Music: Pleading, Charles U. Link, in Church and Sunday School Hymnal, edited by John D. Brunk (Scottdale, Pennsylvania: Mennonite Publishing House, 1902), number 77 (🔊 pdf nwc) Note: This book also credits Link (incorrectly) with writing the words.
Alternate Tunes:
O Lord, to Thee I cry;
Thou art my rock and trust;
O be not silent, lest I die
And slumber in the dust.
O hear my earnest cry,
Thy favor I entreat;
Hear, while I lift imploring hands
Before Thy mercy seat.
O draw me not away
With men who live in sin,
Who to their neighbors speak of peace,
While malice lurks within.
Repay them for their deeds,
And vile attempts, O Lord,
And for the doings of their hands,
Return a just reward.
Because they disregard
The works the Lord hath done,
By Him they shall not be upbuilt
But utterly o’erthrown.
Now blessèd be the Lord,
He heard me when I cried;
Jehovah is my strength and shield,
On Him my heart relied.
I help from Him obtained,
And therefore give Him praise;
And while my heart exults with joy,
My song to Him I raise.
God is His people’s strength,
And His Messiah’s power;
Save, bless, and feed Thy heritage,
Exalt them evermore.