"Our God, Our Help in Ages Past"
                        by Isaac Watts, 1674-1748
                                 Text From:
                     THE HANDBOOK TO THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
               (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1942)p.98



        1. Our God, our Help in ages past,
        Our Hope for years to come,
        Our Shelter from the stormy blast,
        And our eternal Home!

        2. Under the shadow of Thy throne
        Thy saints have dwelt secure;
        Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
        And our defense is sure.

        3. Before the hills in order stood
        Or earth received her frame,
        From everlasting Thou art God,
        To endless years the same.

        4. A thousand ages in Thy sight
        Are like an evening gone,
        Short as the watch that ends the night
        Before the rising sun.

        5. Thy word commands our flesh to dust:
        "Return ye sons of men!"
        All nations rose from earth at first
        And turn to earth again.

        6. Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
        Bears all its sons away;
        They fly forgotten as a dream
        Dies at the opening day.

        7. Like flowery fields the nations stand,
        Pleased with the morning light;
        The flowers beneath the mower's hand
        Lie withering ere 'tis night.

        8. Our God, our Help in ages past,
        Our Hope for years to come,
        Be Thou our Guard while troubles last
        And our eternal Home!

        

        Notes:
        Hymn #123 from _The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal_
        Text: Ps. 90
        Author: Isaac Watts, 1719, ab.
        Composer: William Croft, 1708
        Tune: "St. Anne"
        
        

        

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