Scripture Verse

How should man be just with God? If he will contend with Him, he cannot answer Him one of a thousand. Job 9:1–2

Introduction

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Isaac Watts (1674–1748)

Words: Is­aac Watts, Hymns and Spi­ri­tu­al Songs, Book 1, 1707, num­ber 86. God, ho­ly, just and so­ve­reign. Al­tered forms have been pub­lished, start­ing with Ah, how shall fall­en man…

Music: Abid­ing Grace John S. Camp, 1905 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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John S. Camp (1858–1946)

Lyrics

How should the sons of Ad­am’s race
Be pure before their God?
If He contend in right­eous­ness,
We fall beneath His rod.

To vindicate my words and thoughts
I’ll make no more pretense;
Not one of all my thousand faults
Can bear a just defense.

Strong is His arm, His heart is wise;
What vain perfumers dare
Against their Maker’s hand to rise,
Or tempt th’unequal war?

Mountains by His al­migh­ty wrath
From their old seats are torn;
He shakes the earth, from south to north,
And all her pillars mourn.

He bids the sun forbear to rise;
Th’obedient sun forbears:
His hand with sackcloth spreads the skies,
And seals up all the stars.

He walks upon the stormy sea;
Flies on the stormy wind:
There’s none can trace His wondrous way,
Or His dark footsteps find.