How are Thy servants blest, O Lord

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General information

This is an hymn by Joseph Addison, published in The Spectator No. 489 in 1712. It has been modified in many hymnals and tune-books.

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Text and translations

English.png English text

As Originally Published, 1712
1. How are thy Servants blest, O Lord!
How sure is their defense!
Eternal wisdom is their guide,
Their help omnipotence.

2. In foreign realms, and lands remote,
Supported by Thy care,
Through burning climes I passed unhurt,
And breathed in tainted air.

3. Thy Mercy sweetened every soil,
Made every region please;
The hoary alpine hills it warmed,
And smoothed the Tyrrhene Seas:

4. Think, O my soul, devoutly think,
How with affrighted eyes
Thou saw'st the wide extended deep
In all its horrors rise!

5. Confusion dwelt in every Face,
And fear in every Heart;
When waves on waves, and gulfs in gulfs,
O'ercame the pilot's art.

6. Yet then from all my griefs, O Lord,
Thy mercy set me free,
While in the confidence of prayer
My soul took hold on Thee;

7. For though in dreadful whirls we hung
High on the broken wave,
I knew Thou wert not slow to hear,
Nor impotent to save.

8. The storm was laid, the winds retired,
Obedient to Thy will;
The sea that roared at Thy command,
At Thy command was still.

9. In midst of dangers, fears and death,
Thy goodness I'll adore,
And praise Thee for Thy mercies past;
And humbly hope for more.

10. My life, if thou preserv'st my Life,
Thy sacrifice shall be;
And death, if death must be my doom,
Shall join my soul to Thee.

 

Rippon's Selection, 1792
1. How are thy servant's blessed, O Lord,
How sure is their defense!
Eternal wisdom is their guide,
Their help Omnipotence.

2. In foreign realms, and lands remote,
Supported by thy care,
Thro' burning climes they pass unhurt,
And breathe in tainted air.

3. When, by the dreadful tempest borne,
High on the broken wave,
They know thou art not slow to hear,
Nor impotent to save.

4. The storm is laid, the winds retire,
Obedient to thy will :
The sea, that roars at thy command,
At thy command is still.

5. In midst of dangers, fears and deaths,
Thy goodness we'll adore,
We'll praise thee for thy mercies part,
And humbly hope for more.

6. Our life, while thou preserv'ft that life,
Thy sacrifice shall be ;
And death, when death shall be our lot,
Shall join our souls to thee.

 

Hymns of the Moravian Church, 1902
1. How are Thy servants blest, O Lord!
How sure is their defense!
Eternal wisdom is their guide,
Their help, omnipotence.

2. In foreign realms, and lands remote,
Supported by Thy care,
Thro' burning climes they pass unhurt,
And breathe in tainted air.

3. When by the dreadful tempest borne
High on the broken wave,
They know Thou art not slow to hear,
Nor impotent to save.

4. The storm is laid, the winds retire,
Obedient to Thy will;
The sea, that roars at Thy command,
At Thy command is still.

5. Thy mercy sweetens every soil,
Makes every region please,
Where on the mountains they proclaim
Thy reign, O Prince of peace.

6. The love of Christ constraining them,
They plant sweet Sharon's rose
Successfully on icy plains,
And in eternal snows.

7. In midst of dangers, fears, and deaths,
Thy goodness they adore;
And praise Thee for Thy mercies past,
And humbly hope for more.

8. Thus life, whilst Thou preservest life,
A sacrifice shall be;
And death, when death shall be their lot,
Shall join their souls to Thee.

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