Thee, Lord, my strength, I'll dearly love

Verse 1

Thee, Lord, my strength, I'll dearly love.

Verse 2

The Lord's my rock, to which I fly; My fortress strong, where safe I prove; My Savior from mine enemy: My God, my powerful aid, from whence My steady trust securely flows: My guarding shield, my sure defense, My tower, above the reach of foes.

Verse 3

Depending on thy wonted grace, O Lord, my prayer I'll make to thee; (Who worthy art of all our praise,) So, from my foes, I saved shall be.

Verse 4

Amazing sorrows seized my soul, While death it's terrors round me spread; As when impetuous torrents rowl, Ungodly men made me afraid.

Verse 5

The cords of hell, a dreadful net, Entangling me encompassed round; Death's snares, about me close beset, And how to escape no way I found.

Verse 6

In my distress, to God my prayer, With mournful voice, I then proffered; Who, from his throne, bowed down his ear, And my request, in mercy, heard.

Verse 7

The solid earth then shook with fear, And dreadful trembling on it seized: The hills foundations movéd were, And shook, for God was sore displeased.

Verse 8

From his enraged nostrils rose Thick clouds of smoke; his mouth out-threw Devouring fire; in midst of those, Hot thunder bolts around him flew.

Verse 9

He bowed the heavens, and came down, In solemn pomp marched from his seat; Darkness, from his imperial throne, Was spread beneath his royal feet.

Verse 10

He on a fiery cherub rode, That clave with speed the yielding air; The winds, obsequious to their God, Him, swift, on strongest pinions, bear.

Verse 11

His glory, darkness hid from view; For his pavilion, mists arise; He, for a covering, round him threw, His thick clouds from the nether skies.

Verse 12

Before him, brightness he sent out, His thick clouds, then, in haste retire; They fell, dissolved, a dismal rout, In showers of hail, and storms of fire.

Verse 13

The Lord, with roaring thunder's noise, From heaven, the enemy struck with dread; Th' Almighty spoke with angry voice, And hail, and fire, the terrors spread.

Verse 14

He cast his arrows from the sky, Which broke the forces of the foe; His pointed lightnings swiftly fly, And soon complete their overthrow.

Verse 15

Then did the floods new channels wear, The torn world it's foundations showed; For, Lord, thy vengeance did appear, Fierce blasts from thy hot nostrils flowed.

Verse 16

From high he sent, he seized on me. He drew me from the waters great.

Verse 17

From my strong foe he set me free; Too strong for me, who me did hate.

Verse 18

In my dark day they had o'ercome. But God sustained me by his might.

Verse 19

Changed my close siege for larger room, Saved me, in whom he took delight.

Verse 20

The Lord did my clean hands repay; And recompense my upright heart.

Verse 21

I did not leave thy righteous way; Nor wickedly from God depart.

Verse 22

His judgments all were in my sight; None of his laws my soul disdained.

Verse 23

My heart before him was upright; And from my darling sin refrained.

Verse 24

Therefore the Lord rewarded me According to my righteousness; And as he saw my hands were free From wrong, my griefs did soon redress.

Verse 25

"Kind to the kind thou, Lord, wilt prove; And just to them that justice love.

Verse 26

The pure thy purity shall see; To froward just returns shall be.

Verse 27

"Thou wilt the meek afflicted raise; But haughty looks in dust debase.

Verse 28

The Lord will make my lamp shine bright; And turn my darkness into light."

Verse 29

Thus aided, I have broken through, My numerous foes, an arméd host: Thus, guarded by my God, I flew, And scaled their walls, their greatest boast.

Verse 30

O God, thy ways are perfect found. Thy word, O Lord, is thoroughly tried; Thou, as a shield, wilt them surround, Whose steadfast hopes on thee abide.

Verse 31

"Whom, save Jehovah then alone, Shall we, as God, adoring own? What rock of strength shall us defend, But God? who is our constant friend."

Verse 32

'Tis God that girds me with his might; And brings to pass my just intent.

Verse 33

Makes my feet swift, as hinds, in flight, And strong to climb the steep ascent.

Verse 34

My hands he well instructed how To manage war, with dexterous skill; My strengthened arm can break the bow, That's made of well wrought tempered steel.

Verse 35

Thou gav'st me the protecting shield Of thy salvation, in my strait; Thy right-hand still hath me upheld. Thy gentleness hath made me great.

Verse 36

My straitened steps thou hast enlarged; My feet ne'er slipped, nor were destroyed.

Verse 37

My foes I hot pursued, o'ercharged, And turned not till they were destroyed.

Verse 38

I gave them such a total rout, Their vanquished force no more made head; They prostrate fell, all round about, And, slain, beneath my Feet were spread.

Verse 39

For thou hast girded me with strength, The heat of battle to sustain; Thou hast subdued my foes at length, And made them stoop to my just reign.

Verse 40

To me, mine enemy's necks, he gave, To stay my haters on the spot.

Verse 41

They cried for help, but none did save; Yes, to the Lord, who answered not.

Verse 42

Then small as dust, before the wind, Their mighty numerous troops I beat, Their corpse, with great contempt designed, I cast, as mire, in the open street.

Verse 43

Fierce strifes, and factions, thou hast laid; And made the rebels own my sway; O'er neighboring heathen placed me head, And realms unknown shall me obey.

Verse 44

Soon as they hear, they'll homage pay: Strangers submiss shall prostrate lie.

Verse 45

They that resist shall melt away; And frightened from their coverts fly.

Verse 46

The Lord lives; let my Rock be blessed; Exalted be my Savior God.

Verse 47

God's vengeance does my foes arrest, Subjects whole nations to my rod.

Verse 48

Thou sav'dst me from mine enemies, Raised me, and wast my sure defense, From all that up against me rise; E'en from the man of violence.

Verse 49

Therefore, O Lord, my grateful heart And voice shall celebrate thy fame: To heathen lands thy acts impart, And praises sing unto thy name.

Verse 50

God great deliverance gives his king; Shows his anointed signal grace; Which evermore afresh shall spring. To David and his promised race.