Scripture Verse

If his sons forsake my law and do not follow My statutes, if they violate My decrees and fail to keep My commands, I will punish their sin with the rod, their iniquity with flogging. Psalm 89:30–32

Introduction

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Isaac Watts (1674–1748)

Words: Is­aac Watts, The Psalms of Da­vid 1719. The co­ve­nant of grace un­change­able; or, af­flic­tions with­out re­jec­tion.

Music: St. Ste­phen Will­iam Jones, 1789 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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William Jones (1726–1800)
National Portrait Gallery

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Lyrics

Yet, saith the Lord, “if Da­vid’s race,
The child­ren of My Son,
Should break My laws, abuse My grace,
And tempt Mine an­ger down,

“Their sins I’ll vi­sit with the rod
And make their fol­ly smart;
But I’ll not cease to be their God,
Nor from My truth de­part.

“My cov’nant I will ne’er re­voke,
But keep My grace in mind
And what eter­nal love hath spoke
Eternal truth shall bind.

“Once have I sworn (I need no more)
And pledged My ho­li­ness,
To seal the sac­red pro­mise sure
To Da­vid and his race.

“The sun shall see His off­spring rise
And spread from sea to sea,
Long as he tra­vels round the skies
To give the na­tions day.

Sure as the moon that rules the night
His king­dom shall en­dure,
Till the fixed laws of shade and light
Shall be ob­served no more.