1 If life’s pleasures charm thee,
Give them not thy heart.
Lest the gift ensnare thee
From thy God to part;
His favor seek, His praises speak—
Fix here thy hope’s salvation;
Serve Him, and He will ever be
The Rock of thy salvation.
2 If distress befall thee,
Painful though it be,
Let not grief appall thee—
To your Savior flee;
He ever near, thy prayer will hear,
And calm your perturbation;
The waves of woe shall ne’er o’erflow
The Rock of thy salvation.
3 When earth’s prospects fail thee,
Let it not distress;
Better comforts wait thee—
Christ will surely bless;
To Jesus flee—thy prop He’ll be,
Thy heav’nly consolation;
For griefs below cannot o’er throw
The Rock of thy salvation.
4 Dangers may approach thee;
Let them not alarm;
Christ will ever watch thee,
And protect from harm;
He near thee stands, with mighty hands,
To ward off each temptation;
To Jesus fly; He’s ever nigh,
The Rock of thy salvation.
5 Let not death alarm thee,
Shrink not from his blow;
For thy God shall arm thee,
And vict’ry bestow,
For death shall bring to thee no sting,
The grave no desolation;
’Tis sweet to die with Jesus nigh,
The Rock of thy salvation.
Source: The Cyber Hymnal #13437
Frances Scott Key USA 1779-1843. Born in Frederick County, MD, and educated at St. John’s College, Annapolis, MD, a devout Episcopalian, he practiced law in Washington, DC for four decades. He was U.S. District Attorney for the District of Columbia until his death. He argued some of his cases at the Supreme Court. Key served briefly in a Georgetown militia unit. He married Mary Tayloe Lloyd in 1802, and they had eleven children: Elizabeth, Maria, Francis, John, Anna. Edward, Daniel, Philip, Ellen, Maria, and Charles. He also wrote a few hymn lyrics. During the War of 1812, which Key was against, the British invaded the U.S. and burned the White House, Capitol Building, and Library of Congress. One of Key’s friends, Dr. William B… Go to person page >
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