Lord, Thou hast been Thy people's rest

Verse 1

Lord, Thou hast been thy people’s rest Through all their generations, Their refuge when by danger prest, Their hope in tribulations; Thou, ere the mountains sprang to birth, Or ever Thou hadst form'd the earth, Art God from everlasting.

Verse 2

The sons of men return to clay, When Thou the word hast spoken, As with a torrent borne away, Gone like a dream when broken: A thousand years are, in thy sight, But as a watch amid the night, Or yesterday departed.

Verse 3

At morn, we flourish like the grass With dew and sunbeams lighted, But ere the cool of evening pass, The rich array is blighted: Thus do thy chastisements consume Youth's tender leaf and beauty's bloom; We fade at thy displeasure.

Verse 4

Our life is like the transient breath That tells a mournful story, Early or late, stopt short by death; And where is all our glory? Our days are threescore years and ten, And if the span be lengthen'd then, Their strength is toil and sorrow.

Verse 5

Lo, Thou hast set before thine eyes All our misdeeds and errors; Our secret sins from darkness rise, At thine awakening terrors: Who shall abide the trying hour? Who knows the thunder of thy power? We flee unto thy mercy.

Verse 6

Lord, teach us so to mark our days, That we may prize them duly; So guide our feet in Wisdom's ways, That we may love Thee truly: Return, O Lord, our griefs behold, And with thy goodness, as of old, O satisfy us early.

Verse 7

Restore our comforts as our fears, Our joy as our affliction; Give to thy Church, through changing years, Increasing benediction; Thy glorious beauty there reveal, And with thy perfect image seal Thy servants and their labours.