Isaac Watts
(1674-1768)
Man Frail and God
Eternal
(Our God, Our Help in Ages past)
1 Our God, our help in ages
past,
2 Our hope for years to come,
3 Our shelter from the stormy blast,
4 And our eternal home.
5 Under the shadow of thy
throne
6 Thy Saints have dwelt secure;
7 Sufficient is thine arm alone,
8 And our defence is sure.
9 Before the hills in order
stood,
10 Or earth receiv'd her frame,
11 From everlasting thou art God,
12 To endless years the same.
13 Thy word commands our flesh to
dust,
14 "Return, ye sons of men:"
15 All nations rose from earth at first,
16 And turn to earth again.
17 A thousand ages in thy sight
18 Are like an ev'ning gone;
19 Short as the watch that ends the night,
20 Before the rising sun.
21 The busy tribes of flesh and blood,
22 With all their lives and cares,
23 Are carry'd downwards by the flood,
24 And lost in following years.
25 Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
26 Bears all his sons away;
27 They fly, forgotten, as a dream
28 Dies at the op'ning day.
29 Like flow'ry fields the nations
stand,
30 Pleas'd with the morning light:
31 The flow'rs beneath the mower's hand
32 Lie with'ring ere 'tis night.
33 Our God, our help in ages past,
34 Our hope for years to come,
35 Be thou our guard while troubles last,
36 And our eternal home.
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