Through all the changing scenes, have past

1. Through all the changing scenes, have past
Over thy chosen race;
Thou, Lord, alone, from age to age,
Hast been our dwelling place.
2. Before the mountains, earth, or world,
Were formed by thy nod;
Thou Lord, from everlasting art,
To everlasting, God.

3. 'Tis thou, to rottenness, and dust,
Dost turn weak mortal man;
For thou hast said, "Ye Adam's sons,
Return to earth again."
4. And should he reach a thousand years,
It would be, in thy sight,
But as a day, that's past, and gone;
Or a short watch by night.

5. As with a flood's most rapid stream,
Thou dost them sweep away;
Like dreams they vanish; in the morn,
As grass, look fair, and gay:
6. But howsoe'er it looks, away
It's morning beauty flies;
When evening comes, 'tis all cut down,
It withereth up, and dies.

7. We, by thine anger, are consumed;
Thy wrath does us afright.
8. Thou set'st our crimes, and secret sins,
All plain before thy sight.
9. Thence, all our days, in thy hot wrath,
To speedy end are brought;
We spend our years, as quick as speech,
Swift as a breath, or thought.

10. Our days are threescore years and ten;
If strength to fourscore stay,
'Tis grief, and pain; we're soon cut off,
And hence we fly away.

Second Part

11. Oh! Who doth know thine anger's force!
Wrath, as thy fear, is great!
12. Teach us to number so our days,
That we may wisdom get.
13. Return, Jehovah, O return;
How long shall be the space?
And let thy yearning bowels move.
To show thy servants grace.

14. Oh, let thy mercy early fill
Our souls, and spirits raise;
That we may triumph, and rejoice,
Through all our future days.
15. May our succeeding days, and years,
Abundant comfort yield:
As all our former ones have been,
With great affliction filled.

16. Let this thy special work of love,
Be to thy servants shown;
The glory of thy promised grace,
To all their offspring known.
17. The beauty of the Lord, our God,
Let on us ever shine;
Guide, and confirm, our handiwork,
And prosper our design.

A New Version of the Psalms of David, 1752