Scripture Verse

Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: Therefore He brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help. Psalm 107:10–12

Introduction

Words: From The Psal­ter (Pitts­burgh, Penn­syl­van­ia: Unit­ed Pres­by­ter­ian Board of Pub­li­ca­tion, 1912), num­ber 294.

Music: Lux Pri­ma (Gounod) Charles F. Gou­nod, 1872 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Charles F. Gounod (1818–1893)

Lyrics

Men who walk in fol­ly’s way,
And to ev­il turn aside,
Find that sor­row will re­pay
Those who wis­dom’s laws have de­fied;
Down to death’s dark por­tals led,
They ab­hor their dai­ly bread.

To Je­ho­vah then they cry
In their trou­ble and He saves,
Sends com­pas­sion­ate re­ply
Gives the health their spir­it craves,
Rescues them with gra­cious aid
From the snares their fol­ly led.

Sons of men, awake to praise
God the Lord who reigns above,
Gracious in His works and ways,
Wondrous in re­deem­ing love;
Let them all thank-of­fer­ings bring,
Celebrate His deeds, and sing.