Doctor Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David ‎#118

118. Divine Providence in Air, Earth and Sea; or, The God of Nature and Grace

1 The God of our Salvation hears
The groans of Sion mix'd with tears;
Yet when he comes with kind designs,
Through all the way his terror shines.

2 On him the race of man depends,
Far as the earth's remotest ends,
Where the Creator's name is known
By nature's feeble light alone.

3 Sailors that travel o'er the flood,
Address their frighted souls to God,
When tempests rage and Billows roar
At dreadful distance from the shore.

4 He bids the noisy tempest cease;
He calms the raging crowd to peace,
When a tumultuous nation raves,
Wild as the winds, and loud as waves.

5 Whole kingdoms shaken by the storm,
He settles in a peaceful form;
Mountains establish'd by his hand
Firm on their old foundation stand.

6 Behold his ensigns sweep the sky,
New comets blaze, and lightnings fly;
The Heathen lands with swift surprise,
From the bright horrors turn their eyes.

7 At his command the morning ray
Smiles in the East, and leads the day,
He guides the sun's declining wheels
Over the tops of western hills.

8 Seasons and times obey his voice;
The evening and the morn rejoice
To see the earth made soft with showers,
Laden with fruit, and drest in flowers.

9 'Tis from his watery stores on high,
He gives the thirsty ground supply;
He walks upon the clouds, and thence
Doth his enriching drops dispense.

10 The desert grows a fruitful field,
Abundant food the vallies yield;
The vallies shout with cheerful voice,
And neighboring hills repeat their joys.

11 The pastures smile in green array,
There lambs and larger cattle play;
The larger cattle and the lamb,
Each in his language speaks thy name.

12 Thy works pronounce thy power divine;
O'er every field thy glories shine;
Through every month thy gifts appear;
Great God, thy goodness crowns the year.

Text Information

• First Line: The God of our Salvation hears
• Title: Divine Providence in Air, Earth and Sea; or, The God of Nature and Grace
• Meter: Long Metre
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1787
• Scripture:
  Psalm 65:5-13
• Topic: Gentiles: church; God: his Being, Attributes and Providence; God: of nature and grace; Harvest; Praise: and prayer public; Praise: for rain; Prayer: heard; Prayer: Praise public; Prayer and Praise; Providence: in air, earth, and sea; Psalm: for husbandmen; Rain from heaven; Seasons of the year; Spring of the Year; Summer; Weather

Tune Information

(No tune information)