Prayer heard, and Saints saved; or Pride, Atheism and Oppression punished

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Why doth the Lord stand off so far?

Author: Isaac Watts
Tune: BANGOR (Tansur)
Published in 49 hymnals

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Audio files: MIDI

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Representative Text

1 Why doth the Lord depart so far,
And why conceal his face,
When great calamities appear,
and times of deep distress?

2 Lord, shall the wicked still deride
Thy justice and the laws?
Shall they advance their heads in pride,
And slight their righteous cause?

3 They cast thy judgments from their sight
And then insult the poor;
They boast in their exalted height,
That they shall fall no more.

4 Arise, O God, lift up thine hand
Attend our humble cry;
No enemy shall dare to stand,
When God ascends on high.

5 Why do the men of malice rage,
And say with foolish pride,
The God of heav'n will ne'er engage
To fight on Zion's side?

6 But thou for ever art our Lord;
And pow'rful is thine hand,
As when the Heathens felt thy sword,
And perish'd from thy land.

7 Thou wilt prepare our hearts to pray,
And cause thine ear to hear;
Accept the vows thy children pay,
And free thy saints from fear.

8 Proud tyrants shall no more oppress,
No more despise the just;
And mighty sinners shall confess,
They are but earth and dust.

Source: Church Hymn Book: consisting of newly composed hymns with the addition of hymns and psalms, from other authors, carefully adapted for the use of public worship, and many other occasions (1st ed.) #P.X

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Author: Isaac Watts

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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First Line:	Why doth the Lord stand off so far?
Title:	Prayer heard, and Saints saved; or Pride, Atheism and Oppression punished
Author:	Isaac Watts
Meter:	8.6.8.6
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

Psalm 10
(hymns)

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Tune

BANGOR (Tansur)

Traditionally used for Montgomery's text and for Peter Abelard's "Alone Thou Goest Forth, O Lord," BANGOR comes from William Tans'ur's A Compleat Melody: or the Harmony of Syon (the preface of which is dated 1734). In that collection the tune was a three-part setting for Psalm 12 (and for Psalm 11 i…

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