244. The Cry of the Mortal

Lyrics

1. Lord, through all the generations
Of the children of our race,
In our fears and tribulations,
Thou hast been our dwellingplace.
Ere the vast and wide creation
By Thy word was caused to be,
Or the mountains held their station,
Thou art God eternally.

2. Each succeeding generation
At Thy mighty word appears;
Thou dost count in time's duration
One day as a thousand years.
Death, with swift and sudden warning,
Calls us from life's dream away,
Like the grass, green in the morning,
Withered ere the close of day.

3. In Thy wrath our spirits languish,
Sinful 'neath Thy searching eye;
All our days are passed in anguish,
In Thy wrath we pine and die.
Threescore years and ten we tarry,
Fourscore years the strong may stay,
Long the load of grief to carry,
Till at last we fly away.

4. Who can weigh Thy just displeasure,
Who can fear Thee as he ought?
Teach us now our days to measure
And to wisdom turn our thought.
Lord, return, regard our sadness;
With Thy servants now abide;
Fill our days with joy and gladness,
With Thy mercy satisfied.

5. Long the clouds of evil lower;
Bless us now with gladsome days;
Let Thy servants see Thy power,
Let their children learn Thy praise.
On us let the grace and beauty
Of the Lord our God remain,
Strengthen us for noble duty
That our work be not in vain.

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