Scripture Verse

O God, why hast Thou cast us off for ever? Why doth Thine anger smoke against the sheep of Thy pasture? Psalm 74:1

Introduction

Words: From The Psal­ter (Pitts­burgh, Penn­syl­van­ia: Unit­ed Pres­by­te­ri­an Board of Pub­li­ca­tion, 1912), num­ber 205.

Music: Leaf ar­ranged by Will­iam B. Brad­bu­ry from Samuel W. Ball, 1863 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
William B. Bradbury (1816–1868)

Lyrics

O wherefore hast Thou cast us off,
O God, our God of old?
Why art Thou angry with Thy sheep,
The sheep of Thine own fold,
The sheep of Thine own fold?

Remember Thy inheritance,
Thy Church, redeemed by grace;
Remember Zion’s mount profaned,
Thine ancient dwelling place,
Thine ancient dwelling place.

In ruin long Thy temple lies;
Arise, O God of grace,
And see the ruin foes have wrought
Within Thy holy place,
Within Thy holy place.

Amid Thy courts are lifted high
The standards of the foe,
And impious hands with axe and fire
Have laid Thy temple low,
Have laid Thy temple low.

They have profaned the holy place
Where Thou hast set Thy name,
The sanctuaries of our God
Are given to the flame,
Are given to the flame.

We see no signs of power divine,
No prophet speaks for Thee,
And none can tell, and none can know,
How long these woes shall be,
How long these woes shall be.

How long, O God, shall blasphemy
And shame reproach our land?
Why dost Thou not destroy Thy foes
With Thine al­migh­ty hand,
With Thine al­migh­ty hand?

O God, Thou art our King of old,
Salvation Thou hast wrought;
In safety through the mighty sea
Our fathers Thou hast brought.

Withy mighty arm thou didst destroy
The pride of boastful man,
And for Thy people made a path
Where mighty waters ran.

The day is Thine, and Thine the night,
And Thine the shining sun;
At Thy command the earth’s bounds are set
And changing seasons run.

Mark how Thy enemies, O Lord,
Against Thee proudly speak;
Preserve Thy saints from wicked men,
Be mindful of the meek.

Fulfill, O Lord, Thy covenant,
Our strong protector be,
For in the earth are dark abodes
Of crime and cruelty.

Let not Thy saints be put to shame,
No longer in Thy sight
Permit Thy foes to vaunt themselves;
Lord, vindicate the right.