1 O God, my refuge, hear my cries,
Behold my flowing tears,
For earth and hell my hurt devise,
And triumph in my fears.
2 Their rage is level'd at my life,
My soul with guilt they load,
And fill my thoughts with inward strife,
To shake my hopes in God.
3 What inward pains my heart-strings wound,
I groan with ev'ry breath;
Horror and fear beset me round
Amongst the shades of death.
4 Oh were I like a feather'd dove,
And innocence had wings;
I’d fly, and make a long remove
From all these restless things.
5 Let me to some wild desert go,
And find a peaceful home,
Where storms of malice never blow,
Temptations never come.
6 Vain hopes, and vain inventions all
To ’scape the rage of hell!
The mighty God on whom I call,
Can save me here as well.
7 By morning light I’ll seek his face,
At noon repeat my cry,
The night shall hear me ask his grace,
Nor will he long deny.
8 God shall preserve my soul from fear,
Or shield me when afraid;
Ten thousand angels must appear
If he command their aid.
9 I cast my burdens on the Lord,
The Lord sustains them all;
My courage rests upon his word,
That saints shall never fall.
10 My highest hopes can not be vain,
My lips shall spread his praise;
While cruel and deceitful men,
Scarce live out half their days.
Part II.
11 Let sinners take their course,
And chuse the road to death;
But in the worship of my God
I'll spend my daily breath.
12 My thoughts address his throne,
When morning brings the light;
I'll seek his blessing ev'ry noon,
And pay my vows at night.
13 Thou wilt regard my cries,
O my eternal God,
While sinners perish in surprise,
Beneath thine angry rod.
14 Because they dwell at ease,
And no sad changes feel,
They neither fear, nor trust thy name,
Nor learn to do thy will.
15 But I with all my cares
Will lean upon the Lord;
I'll cast my burdens on his arm,
And rest upon his word.
16 His arm shall well sustain
The children of his love;
The ground on which their safety stands,
No earthly power can move.