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O Lord the savior and defense
of us thy chosen race,
From age to age thou still hast been
our sure abiding place.
Before thou brought'st the mountains forth,
or th' earth and world didst frame,
Thou always were the mighty God,
and ever art the same.
Thou turnest man, O Lord, to dust,
of which he first was made;
And when thou speak'st the word, "Return,"
'tis instantly obey'd.
For in thy sight a thousand years
are like a day that's past,
Or like a watch in dead of night,
whose hours un-minded waste.
Thou sweep'st us off as with a flood,
we vanish hence like dreams;
At first we grow like grass that feels
the sun's reviving beams:
But howsoever fresh and fair
its morning beauty shows;
'Tis all cut down and withered quite
before the ev'ning close.
We by thine anger are consumed,
and by thy wrath dismayed:
Our public crimes and secret sins
before thy sight are laid.
Beneath thy anger's sad effects
our drooping days we spend;
Our un-regarded years break off,
like tales that quickly end.
Our term of life is seventy years,
an age that few survive;
But if, with more than common strength,
to eighty we arrive;
Yet then our boasted strength decays,
to sorrow turned, and pain:
So soon the slender thread is cut,
and we no more remain.
So teach us, Lord, the uncertain sum
Of our short days to mind,
That to true wisdom all our hearts
May ever be inclined.
---Alternative verses---
O Lord, the saviour and defence
Of all thy chosen race,
From age to age thou still hast been
Our sure abiding-place.
Before the lofty mountains rose,
Or earth received its frame,
From everlasting thou art God,
To endless years the same.
Thou turnest man, O Lord, to dust,
Of which he first was made;
When thou dost speak the word, Return,
'Tis instantly obeyed.
So teach us, Lord, the uncertain sum
Of our short days to mind,
That unto wisdom all our hearts
May ever be inclined.
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marker 99
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LYRICS
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Meter:
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8 6 8 6 (C.M.)
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Writer(s):
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Trans/Adapted:
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Dates:
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1696
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Bible Refs:
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Ps 90:1-10;
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LIST OF LYRIC SOURCES
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Hymn/Song Book
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Year
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Song #
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| 1851 | # 447 | | 1821 | # 90 | | 1872 | # 90.3 |
echo ' | ';
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Hymn Writer
