Psalm CXVI

I love the Lord, his gracious ear,
Inclin'd to my distressful prayer;
He heard my supplicating voice,
And bade my fainting heart rejoice'

For this, when future sorrows rise,
To him I'll breathe my humble cries;
For this, through all my future days,
Adore his name and sing his praise.

Death spread around his fatal chains,
To drag me to infernal pains;
I felt the agonizing dart,
And horror seiz'd my trembling heart,

'Twas then in my extreme distress,
I call'd upon the God of grace,
Whose power can death and hell controul;
Lord, I beseech thee, save my soul.

For ever gracious is the Lord,
For ever faithful to his word;
By sweet experience now I prove,
His mercy, his unchanging love.

The Lord preserves, with tender care,
The weak, the humble, and sincere;
Low in the dust my hopes were laid,
But God appear'd with timely aid.

Return my soul, and sweetly rest
On thy almighty Father's breast;
The bounties of his grace adore,
And count his wonderous mercies o'er.

Thy mercy, Lord, preserv'd my breath,
And snatch'd my fainting soul from death,
Remov'd my sorrows, dry'd my tears,
And sav'd me from surrounding snares.

How will I walk before the Lord,
A living witness to his word;
With faith and prayer I sought his face,
My griefs were great, and great his grace.

No meaner help, no mortal art,
Could ease the anguish of my heart;
My hasty tongue, in rash replies,
Pronounc'd the words of men but lies.

What shall I render to the Lord?
Or how his wonderous grace record
To him my grateful voice I'll raise,
And pour libations to his praise.

His crouded courts shall see me pay
The vows of my distressful day;
In life and death the saints shall find
Their guardian God forever kind.

Thy servant, Lord, is wholly thine.
By nature's ties, and bonds divine;
From deep distress and sorrow free,
Anew I give myself to thee.

To thee, with sacrifice of praise,
My invocations I will raise;
To thee my vows shall warm ascend.
While crowds the solemn rites attend.

O Salem, in thy sacred courts,
Where glory dwells and joy resorts,
To notes divine I'll tune the song,
And praise shall flow from every tongue.