Scripture Verse

They rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the most High. Therefore He brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help. Psalm 107:11–12

Introduction

Words: From The Psal­ter (Pitts­burgh, Penn­syl­van­ia: Unit­ed Pres­by­te­ri­an Board of Pub­li­ca­tion, 1912), num­ber 293.

Music: Dix Con­rad Koch­er, Stim­men aus dem Reiche Gott­es, 1838 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Conrad Kocher (1786–1872)

Lyrics

Rebels, who had dared to show
Proud contempt of God Most High
Bound in iron and in woe,
Shades of death and darkness nigh,
Humbled low with toil and pain,
Fell, and looked for help in vain.

To Je­ho­vah when they cried
In their trouble, and He saved,
Threw the prison open wide
Where they lay to death enslaved,
Bade the gloomy shadows flee,
Broke their bonds and set them free.

Sons of men, awake to praise
God the Lord who reigns above,
Gracious in His works and ways,
Wondrous in redeeming love;
Longing souls He satisfies,
Hungry hearts with good supplies.

When His righteous judgments come,
Strong to bless and to destroy,
All iniquity is dumb,
All the righteous sing for joy;
Who God’s dealings wisely heed,
In His works His mercy read.