The Psalms of David ‎#XLIV

XLIV. Our Fathers, LORD, repeatedly

1 Our Fathers, LORD, repeatedly
Have told in our attentive Ears,
The mighty Wonders, thou hast done
In Times more ancient far than theirs:
How thou didst plant them by thy Hand,
And drove the Heathen from the Land.

2 For not their Courage, nor their Sword,
To them this great Possession gave;
Nor Strength that from unequal Force,
Their fainting Troops could ever save;
But thy right Hand, which they implor'd,
Thy Presence which they still ador'd.

3 As thee their GOD our Fathers own'd,
So thou art now our sov'reign King;
Oh therefore, as thou didst to them,
To us thy kind Deliv'rance bring;
For thro' thy Name, our Foes we quell,
Whene'er against us they rebel.

4 I'll neither trust my Bow, nor Sword,
When I in Battles fierce engage;
But thee, who hast our Foes subdu'd,
And put to shame their spiteful Rage:
In GOD, from whom the Conquest came,
We will rejoice and bless his Name.

5 But thou hast cast us off, and now
Most shamefully we're forc'd to yield;
For Thou no more vouchsaf'st to lead,
Our vanquish'd Armies to the Field;
To ev'ry Foe we turn in Fight,
And with our Spoil they feast their Spite.

6 To Slaughter doom'd, we fall like Sheep
Into their butch'ring Hands;
Or what's more wretched yet, survive
Dispers'd throughout the Heathen Lands;
Thy People thou valu'd low,
That their Disgrace may greater grow.

7 Reproach'd by all the Neighbours round,
The Heathen's By-word we are grown,
Whose Scorn of us, is both in Speech,
And in provoking Gestures shewn:
My Face in conscious Shame I hide,
Whilst they blaspheme in haughty Pride.

8 On us this Heap of Woes is fall'n,
All this Disgrace we have endur'd,
Yet have not, LORD, renounc'd thy Name,
Or Faith to thee, out GOD abjur'd;
But in thy Paths have kept with Care;
Tho' brought to Danger and Despair.

9 Could we, forgetting thy great Name,
Oh LORD, on other GODs rely,
And not the Searcher of all Hearts,
The treach'rous Crime at once descry?
For thee we daily Wrongs sustain,
And are like Sheep doom'd to be slain.

10 Awake, arise, let seeming Sleep
No longer thee, our GOD, detain;
Nor let us, LORD, who sue for Aid,
Forever sue to thee in vain;
But hasten thou to our Relief,
And let thy Presence banish Grief.

11 Oh wherefore hidest thou thy Face,
From our afflicted ruin'd State?
Whose Souls and Bodies sink to Earth,
Beneath our Grief's oppressive WeightL
Up, LORD, and us in Safety take!
Oh help us for thy Mercie's Sake!

Text Information

• First Line: Our Fathers, LORD, repeatedly
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1767
• Scripture:
  Psalm 44
• Topic: Description of: Confidence of Believers in Dangers; Prayers: Of the Church for her Deliverance in Persecution

Tune Information

• Name: [Our Fathers, Lord, repeatedly]
• Key: C Major