Psalm 31

Words: Isaac Watts

Common Metre Tunes

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.


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Page last modified on: 07/29/2004