O God, Our Help in Ages Past ============================ w: Isaac Wattds, 1719 m: William Croft, 1708 Tune: St. Anne Meter: CM [Verse 1] O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home. [Verse 2] Under the shadow of Thy throne Thy saints have dwelt secure; Sufficient is Thine arm alone, And our defense is sure. [Verse 3] Before the hills in order stood, Or earth received her frame, From everlasting Thou art God, To endless years the same. [Verse 4] Thy Word commands our flesh to dust, “Return, ye sons of men”: All nations rose from earth at first, And turn to earth again. [Verse 5] A thousand ages in Thy sight Are like an evening gone; Short as the watch that ends the night Before the rising sun. [Verse 6] The busy tribes of flesh and blood, With all their lives and cares, Are carried downwards by the flood, And lost in foll’wing years. [Verse 7] Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Bears all its sons away; They fly, forgotten, as a dream Dies at the op’ning day. [Verse 8] Like flow’ry fields the nations stand Pleased with the morning light; The flow’rs beneath the mower’s hand Lie with’ring ere ’tis night. [Verse 9] O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Be Thou our guard while troubles last, And our eternal home.