Scripture Verse

Some became fools through their rebellious ways, and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. Psalm 107:17–19

Introduction

portrait
James Montgomery
(1771–1854)
National Portrait Gallery

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Words: James Mont­go­me­ry, Songs of Zi­on (Lon­don: Long­man, Hurst, Rees, Orme & Brown, 1822), pag­es 102–03.

Music: Mer­cy Lou­is M. Gott­schalk, 1867 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Louis M. Gottschalk
(1829–1869)

Lyrics

Fools, for their trans­gress­ion, see
Sharp dis­ease their youth con­sume,
And their beau­ty, like a tree,
Withering o’er an ear­ly tomb.

Food is loath­some to their taste.
And the eye re­volts from light ;
All their joys to ru­in haste.
As the sunset in­to night.

Then un­to the Lord they cry,
He in­clines a gr­acious ear,
Sends de­liv­er­ance from on high,
Rescues them from all their fear.

He with health re­news their frame,
Lengthens out their num­bered days;
Let them glor­ify His name
With the sac­ri­fice of praise.

O that men would praise the Lord,
For His good­ness to their race;
For the won­ders of His Word,
And the rich­es of His grace!