Psalm 77
Words: Isaac Watts
Melancholy assaulting, and hope prevailing.
1 To God I cried with mournful voice,
I sought his gracious ear,
In the sad day when troubles rose,
And filled the night with fear.
2 Sad were my days, and dark my nights,
My soul refused relief;
I thought on God the just and wise,
But thoughts increased my grief.
3 Still I complained, and still oppressed,
My heart began to break;
My God, thy wrath forbade my rest,
And kept my eyes awake.
4 My overwhelming sorrows grew,
Till I could speak no more;
Then I within myself withdrew,
And called thy judgments o'er.
5 I called back years and ancient times
When I beheld thy face;
My spirit search d for secret crimes
That might withhold thy grace.
6 I called thy mercies to my mind
Which I enjoyed before;
And will the Lord no more be kind?
His face appear no more?
7 Will he for ever cast me off?
His promise ever fail?
Has he forgot his tender love ?
Shall anger still prevail?
8 But I forbid this hopeless thought;
This dark, despairing frame,
Rememb'ring what thy hand hath wrought;
Thy hand is still the same.
9 I'll think again of all thy ways,
And talk thy wonders o'er;
Thy wonders of recov'ring grace,
When flesh could hope no more.
l0 Grace dwells with justice on the throne;
And men that love thy word
Have in thy sanctuary known
The counsels of the Lord.
PART 2.
Comfort derived from ancient providences.
1 "How awful is thy chast'ning rod !"
May thy own children say:
"The great, the wise, the dreadful God!
How holy is his way!"
2 I'll meditate his works of old,
The King that reigns above;
I'll hear his ancient wonders told,
And learn to trust his love.
3 Long did the house of Joseph lie
With Egypt's yoke oppressed;
Long he delayed to hear their cry,
Nor gave his people rest.
4 The sons of good old Jacob seemed
Abandoned to their foes;
But his almighty arm redeemed
The nation that he chose.
5 Isr'el, his people and his sheep,
Must follow where he calls;
He bade them venture through the deep,
And made the waves their walls.
6 The waters saw thee, mighty God!
The waters saw thee come;
Backward they fled, and freighted stood,
To make thine armies room.
7 Strange was thy journey through the sea
Thy footsteps, Lord, unknown;
Terrors attend the wondrous way
That brings thy mercies down.
8 [Thy voice, with terror in the sound,
Through clouds and darkness broke;
All heav'n in lightning shone around,
And earth with thunder shook.
9 Thine arrows through the skies were hurled;
How glorious is the Lord!
Surprise and trembling seized the world,
And his own saints adored.
10 He gave them water from the rock,
And safe, by Moses' hand,
Through a dry desert led his flock
Home to the promised land.]
