1 I love the Lord, the fount of life and grace;
he hears my voice, my cry and supplication,
inclines his ear, gives strength and consolation;
in life, in death, my heart will seek his face.
2 The cords of death held me in deep despair;
the pangs of hell, like waves by tempest driven,
rolled o'er my soul; by grief and sorrow driven,
I turned in my distress to God in prayer.
3 I cried, "Deliver thou my soul, O Lord!"
Jehovah heard; I pledge him my devotion.
The Lord is just, his grace, wide as the ocean;
in boundless mercy he fulfills his word.
4 The Lord preserves the meek most tenderly;
brought nigh to death, in him I found salvation.
Come, thou my soul, relieved from agitation,
turn to thy rest; the Lord has favored thee.
5 Thou, O Jehovah, in thy sovereign grace,
hast saved my soul from death and woe appalling,
dried all my tears, secured my feet from falling.
Lo, I shall live and walk before thy face.
6 I have believed, and therefore did I speak
when I was made to suffer tribulation;
I said in haste and bitter desperation:
"All men are false, 'tis nought but lies they speak."
7 What shall I render to Jehovah now
for all the riches of his consolation?
With joy I'll take the cup of his salvation,
and call upon his name with thankful vow.
8 Before his saints I'll pay my vows to God;
e'en in death's vale he keepeth me from evil;
how dear to God the dying of his people!
Praise him, ye saints, and sound his name abroad.
9 I am, O Lord, thy servant, bound yet free,
thy handmaid's son, whose shackles thou hast broken;
redeemed by grace, I'll render as a token
of gratitude my constant praise to thee.
10 Jerusalem! Within thy courts I'll praise
Jehovah's name, and with a spirit lowly
pay all my vows. O Zion, fair and holy,
come join with me and bless him all thy days!
Source: Trinity Psalter Hymnal #116B