1 Save me, O God, the swelling floods
break in upon my soul;
I sink, and sorrows o'er my head
like mighty waters roll.
I cry till all my voice be gone;
in tears I waste the day:
my God, behold my longing eyes,
and shorten Thy delay.
2 They hate my soul without a cause,
and still their number grows
more than the hairs around my head,
and mighty are my foes.
'Twas then I paid that dreadful debt
that men could never pay,
and gave those honors to Thy law
which sinners took away.
3 Thus in the great Messiah's name
the royal prophet mourns;
thus He awakes our hearts to grief,
and gives us joy by turns.
Now shall the saints rejoice, and find
salvation in Thy name
for I have borne their heavy load
of sorrow, pain, and shame.
4 Grief, like a garment, clothed me round,
and sackcloth was my dress,
while I procured for naked souls
a robe of righteousness.
Amongst my brethren and the Jews
I like a stranger stood,
and bore their vile reproach to bring
the Gentiles near to God.
5 I came in sinful mortals' stead
to do my Father's will;
yet when I cleansed my Father's house,
they scandalized my zeal.
My fasting, and my holy groans
were made the drunkard's song;
but God from His celestial throne
heard my complaining tongue.
6 He saved me from the dreadful deep,
nor let my soul be drowned;
He raised and fixed my sinking feet
on well established ground.
'Twas in a most accepted hour
my prayer arose on high,
and for my sake my God shall hear
the dying sinner's cry.
Source: Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #69B
Isaac Watts was the son of a schoolmaster, and was born in Southampton, July 17, 1674. He is said to have shown remarkable precocity in childhood, beginning the study of Latin, in his fourth year, and writing respectable verses at the age of seven. At the age of sixteen, he went to London to study in the Academy of the Rev. Thomas Rowe, an Independent minister. In 1698, he became assistant minister of the Independent Church, Berry St., London. In 1702, he became pastor. In 1712, he accepted an invitation to visit Sir Thomas Abney, at his residence of Abney Park, and at Sir Thomas' pressing request, made it his home for the remainder of his life. It was a residence most favourable for his health, and for the prosecution of his literary… Go to person page >
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