The Psalms of David ‎#159

159. Man Frail, and God Eternal

1 Our GOD, our Help in Ages past,
Our Hope for Years to come,
Our Shelter from the stormy Blast,
And our Eternal Home.

2 Under the Shadow of thy Throne
Thy Saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is thine Arm alone,
And our Defence is sure.

3 Before the Hills in Order stood,
Or Earth receiv'd her Frame,
From Everlasting thou art GOD,
To endless Years the same.

4 Thy Word commands our Flesh to Dust,
Return, ye Sons of Men:
All Nations rose from Earth at first,
And turn to Earth again.

5 A thousand Ages, in thy Sight
Are like an Ev'ning gone;
Short as the Watch that ends the Night
Before the rising Sun.

6 [The busy Tribes of Flesh and Blood,
With all their Lives and Cares,
Are carried downwards by the Flood,
And lost in following Years.

7 Time, like an ever-rolling Stream,
Bears all its Sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a Dream
Dies at the op'ning Day.

8 Like flow'ry Fields the Nations stand
Pleas'd with the Morning-Light;
The Flow'rs beneath the Mower's Hand
Lie with'ring e'er 'tis Night.]

9 Our GOD, our Help in Ages past,
Our Hope for Years to come,
Be thou our Guard while Troubles last,
And our Eternal Home.

Text Information

• First Line: Our GOD, our Help in Ages past
• Title: Man Frail, and God Eternal
• Meter: Com. Metre
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1740
• Scripture:
  Psalm 90:1-5
• Topic: Death: the effect of sin; Frailty of Man; Funeral psalm; God: Eternal and Man mortal; Life and Riches: short and feeble; Man: his vanity as mortal; Mortality: of man; Saints: Reward at last

Tune Information

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