Psalm 31
Words: Isaac Watts
Part 1: v.5, 13�19, 22, 23 Deliverance from death.
1 Unto thine hand, O God of truth,
My spirit I commit;
Thou hast redeemed my soul from death,
And saved me from the pit.
2 The passions of my hope and fear
Maintained a doubtful strife,
While sorrow, pain, and sin conspired
To take away my life.
3 �My times are in thine hand,� I cried,
�Though I draw near the dust;
Thou art the refuge where I hide,
The God in whom I trust.
4 O make thy reconciled face
Upon thy servant shine,
And save me for thy mercy�s sake,
For I�m entirely thine.
PAUSE.
5 �Twas in my haste my spirit said,
�I must despair and die,
I am cut off before thine eyes;
But thou hast heard my cry.
6 Thy goodness how divinely free!
How wondrous is thy grace
To those that fear thy majesty,
And trust thy promises!
7 O love the Lord, all ye his saints,
And sing his praises loud;
He�ll bend his ear to your complaints,
And recompense the proud.
Part 2: v.7�13, 18�21 Deliverance from slander and reproach.
1 My heart rejoices in thy name,
My God, my help, my trust;
Thou hast preserved my face from shame,
Mine honor from the dust.
2 �My life is spent with grief,� I cried,
�My years consumed in groans,
My strength decays, mine eyes are dried,
And sorrow wastes my bones.�
3 Among mine enemies my name
Was a mere proverb grown,
While to my neighbors I became
Forgotten and unknown.
4 Slander and fear on every side
Seized and beset me round
I to the throne of grace applied,
And speedy rescue found.
PAUSE.
5 How great deliverance thou hast wrought
Before the sons of men!
The lying lips to silence brought,
And made their boastings vain!
6 Thy children from the strife of tongues
Shall thy pavilion hide;
Guard them from infamy and wrongs,
And crush the sons of pride.
7 Within thy secret presence, Lord,
Let me for ever dwell;
No fenced city, walled and barred,
Secures a saint so well.
