Doctor Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David ‎#215

215. The true God our Refuge, or, Idolatry reproved

1 Not to ourselves, who are but dust,
Not to ourselves is glory due,
Eternal God, thou only just,
Thou only gracious, wise and true.

2 Display to earth thy dreadful name;
Why should a heathen's haughty tongue
Insult us, and, to raise our shame,
Say, Where's the God you've serv'd so long?

3 The God we serve maintains his throne,
Above the clouds, beyond the skies;
Through all the earth his will is done,
He knows our groans, he hears our cries.

4 But the vain idols they adore
Are senseless shapes of stone and wood:
At best a mass of glittering ore,
A silver saint, or golden god.

5 [With eyes and ears, they carve the head;
Deaf are their ears, their eyes are blind;
In vain are costly offerings made,
And vows are scatter'd in the wind.

6 Their feet were never made to move,
Nor hands to save when mortals pray;
Mortals that pay them fear or love,
Seem to be blind and deaf as they.]

7 Oh Israel, make the Lord thy hope,
Thy help, thy refuge, and thy rest;
The Lord shall build thy ruins up,
And bless the people and the priest.

8 The dead no more can speak thy praise,
They dwell in silence and the grave;
But we shall live to sing thy grace,
And tell the world thy power to save.

Text Information

• First Line: Not to ourselves, who are but dust
• Title: The true God our Refuge, or, Idolatry reproved
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1787
• Scripture:
  Psalm 115
• Topic: God: our Defense and Salvation; Idolatry reproved
• Notes: Now Public Domain. First Metre

Tune Information

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