Dr. Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David ‎#136

136. The God of our salvation hears

1 The God of our salvation hears
The groans of Zion, mix'd with tears;
Yet when he comes with kind designs,
Thro' 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 tempests 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, established by his hand,
Firm on their old foundations stand.

6 Behold his ensigns sweep the sky,
New comets blaze, and lightnings fly
The heathen lands, with swift surprize,
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 ev'ning and the morn rejoice
To see the earth made soft with show'rs,
Laden with fruit, and dress'd in flow'rs.

9 'Tis from his wat'ry 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 fruitless field,
Abundant food the vallies yield;
The vallies shout with cheerful voice,
And neighb'ring 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 pow'r divine;
O'er ev'ry field thy glories shine,
Thro' every month thy gifts appear;
Great God! thy goodness crowns the year.

Text Information

• First Line: The God of our salvation hears
• Meter: L. M.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1790
• Scripture:
  Psalm 65:5-13
• Notes: Part 2

Tune Information

(No tune information)