Psalm 17
Words: Isaac Watts
Note: there is also a Long Metre version on this page
Portion of saints and sinners.
1 Arise, my gracious God,
And make the wicked flee;
They are but thy chastising rod,
To drive thy saints to thee.
2 Behold, the sinner dies,
His haughty words are vain;
Here in this life his pleasure lies,
And all beyond is pain.
3 Then let his pride advance,
And boast of all his store;
The Lord is my inheritance,
My soul can wish no more.
4 I shall behold the face
Of my forgiving God;
And stand complete in righteousness,
Washed ill my Savior's blood.
5 There's a new heav'n begun,
When I awake from death,
Dressed in the likeness of thy Son,
And draw immortal breath.
The sinner's portion and saint's hope.
1 I am thine; but thou wilt prove
My faith, my patience, and my love:
When men of spite against me join,
They are the sword, the hand is thine.
2 Their hope and portion lies below:
'Tis all the happiness they know,
'Tis all they seek; they take their shares,
And leave the rest among their heirs.
3 What sinners value I resign;
Lord, 'tis enough that thou art mine:
I shall behold thy blissful face,
And stand complete in righteousness.
4 This life's a dream, an empty show;
But the bright world to which I go.
Hath joys substantial and sincere:
When shall I wake and find me there ?
5 O glorious hour! O blessed abode!
I shall be near and like my God!
And flesh and sin no more control
The sacred pleasures of the soul.
6 My flesh shall slumber in the ground
Till the last trumpet's joyful sound;
Then burst the chains with sweet surprise,
And in my Savior's image rise.
