Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Through God we shall do valiantly: for He it is that shall tread down our enemies.
Psalm 60:11–12
Words: Paul B. Henkel, Church Hymn Book (New Market, Virginia: Solomon Henkel, printer, 1816), pages 149–51, alt. For a fast-day in time of war.
Note: The 1816 edition of this hymnal does not name the author. Paul Henkel’s son, Ambrose Henkel, identifies his father as the author by a double dagger symbol (‡) in the 1838 edition, page 638.
Music: Bristol (Ravenscroft), from Thomas Ravenscroft’s Psalter, 1621 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a better picture of Henkel,
Show mercy, Lord, reveal Thy power;
Turn Thy afflicting hand;
That much desirèd peace restore
To this, our wretched land.
We have offended Thee, our God!
Our crimes are very great;
Sedition, war, and shedding blood,
Deserve to be our fate.
Long have Thine offers been denied;
In vain Thy calls have been;
Well we deserve to be destroyed,
And perish in our sin.
Our enemies with all their hosts,
Invade us everywhere;
They trouble us in all our coasts
And fill our land with fear.
What numbers of our fellow men
Become a prey to death;
When in the field of battle slain,
And there resign their breath.
Whilst others are swept off the stage,
By various complaints,
Which, in our guilty camps do rage
And hurry them from hence.
What sorrows, troubles, griefs and woes
In every place abound;
What numbers of our cruel foes
Encompass us around.
We grieve to see the great distress
The present times have made;
Poor widows, orphans fatherless,
Without support or aid.
Have mercy gracious God! we pray,
Lord, hear the cries we make;
O! cast us not from Thee away,
Spare us for Jesus’ sake.