Scripture Verse

I cry unto Thee, and Thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and Thou regardest me not. Job 30:20

Introduction

portrait
John Newton (1725–1807)

Words: John New­ton, Ol­ney Hymns (Lon­don: W. Ol­iv­er, 1779), Book 1, num­ber 44. The change.

Music: Ar­fon French & Welsh tune. Ar­ranged by Hugh Da­vies, cir­ca 1906 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Da­vies (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Savior, shine and cheer my soul,
Bid my dy­ing hopes re­vive;
Make my wound­ed spi­rit whole,
Far away the tempt­er drive:
Speak the word and set me free,
Let me live alone to Thee.

Shall I sigh and pray in vain,
Wilt Thou still re­fuse to hear;
Wilt Thou not re­turn again,
Must I yield to black des­pair?
Thou hast taught my heart to pray,
Canst Thou turn Thy face away?

Once I thought my moun­tain strong,
Firmly fixed no more to move;
Then Thy grace was all my song,
Then my soul was filled with love:
Those were happy gold­en days,
Sweetly spent in pray­er and praise.

When my friends have said, Be­ware,
Soon or late you’ll find a change
;
I could see no cause for fear,
Vain their cau­tion seemed and strange:
Not a cloud ob­scured my sky,
Could I think a tem­pest nigh?

Little, then, my­self I knew,
Little thought of Sa­tan’s pow­er;
Now I find their words were true,
Now I feel the stor­my hour!
Sin has put my joys to flight,
Sin has changed my day to night.

Satan asks, and mocks my woe,
Boaster, where is now your God?
Silence, Lord, this cru­el foe,
Let him know I’m bought with blood:
Tell him, since I know Thy name,
Though I change, Thou art the same.