Religion
Psalm 3: Doubts and fears suppressed
From The Psalms of David Imitated (1719)
My God, how many are my fears!
How fast my foes increase!
Conspiring my eternal death,
They break my present peace.
The lying tempter would persuade
There's no relief in heav'n;
And all my swelling sins appear
Too big to be forgiv'n.
But thou, my glory and my strength,
Shalt on the tempter tread,
Shalt silence all my threatening guilt,
And raise my drooping head.
I cried, and from his holy hill
He bowed a listening ear;
I called my Father, and my God,
And he subdued my fear.
He shed soft slumbers on mine eyes,
In spite of all my foes;
I woke, and wondered at the grace
That guarded my repose.
What though the hosts of death and hell
All armed against me stood,
Terrors no more shall shake my soul;
My refuge is my God.
Arise, O Lord, fulfil thy grace,
While I thy glory sing;
My God has broke the serpent's teeth,
And death has lost his sting.
Salvation to the Lord belongs;
His arm alone can save:
Blessings attend thy people here,
And reach beyond the grave.
Cite this poem
MLA
Watts, Isaac. “Psalm 3: Doubts and fears suppressed.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/watts/6/.
Chicago
Watts, Isaac. “Psalm 3: Doubts and fears suppressed.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/watts/6/.
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More by Isaac Watts
- Psalm 12: Complaint of a general corruption of manners; or, The promise and sign of Christ's coming to judgment
- Psalm 85, Part 1: Waiting for an answer to prayer; or, Deliverance begun and completed
- Psalm 147, Part 1: The Divine nature, providence, and grace
- Hymn I.131: The Pharisee and publican
- Hymn II.135: Types and prophecies of Christ