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Lyrics and Information

O God, Our Help in Ages Past

Words by Isaac Watts (1674-1748), 1719
Tune: ST. ANNE by William Croft, 1708
Key signature: C major (no sharps or flats)
Time signature: 4/4
Meter: 8.6.8.6
Public Domain
Organ Performance at Hymns Without Words
1. O 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 Still may we dwell 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. Thy Word commands our flesh to dust, “Return, ye sons of men”: All nations rose from earth at first, And turn to earth again.
5. A thousand ages in Thy sight Are like an evening gone; Short as the watch that ends the night Before the rising sun.
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.
7. Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Bears all its sons away; They fly, forgotten, as a dream Dies at the op’ning day.
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.
9. O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Be Thou our guard while life shall last, And our eternal home.