O God, Our Help in Ages Past

Our Hope for Years to Come

O God, Our Help in Ages Past is one of the most well known of the 600 hymns written by Isaac Watts (1674-1748). Written in 1714 as a paraphrase of Psalm 90, it was first published in 1719 as part of his collection: The Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament. It is sung to the tune, Saint Anne by William Croft (1678-1727). It was composed in 1708 while he was organist at St. Anne's Church in Soho, London. He eventually became organist at Westminster Abbey. In the Liturgy of the Hours, O God, Our Help in Ages Past is used in the Common of Holy Men and in the Common of Holy Women.

Tune: St. Anne

O GOD, OUR HELP IN AGES PAST by Isaac Watts, 1719 (Public Domain)

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,
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,
rom 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. Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
bears all its sons away;
they fly, forgotten, as a dream
dies at the opening day.

6. O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
be thou our guide while troubles last,
and our eternal home!

O Worship the King

All glorious above.

O Worship the King, first published in 1833 was written by onetime Member of British Parliament, and a Director of the East India Company; Sir Robert Grant (1779-1838). It is set to the tune, Hanover by English composer and organist William Croft (1678–1727). In the Liturgy of the Hours, O Worship the King All Glorious Above is used during Ordinary Time for Evening Prayer.



O WORSHIP THE KING by Robert Grant, 1833 (Public Domain)

1. O worship the king, All glorious above;
Oh gratefully sing his power and his love;
Our shield and defender, the ancient of days,
Pavilioned in splendour, And girded with praise.

2. O, tell of his might Oh, sing of His grace;
Whose robe is the light, Whose canopy space;
His chariots of wrath form The deep thunderclouds
And dark is his path On the wings of the storm.

3. This earth with its store Of wonders untold,
Almighty! Thy power hath founded of old;
Hath stablished it fast by a changeless decree,
And round it hath cast, like a mantle, the sea

4. Thy bountiful care what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air, It shines in the light;
It streams from the hills, It descends to the plain,
And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.

5. Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
In thee do we trust, nor find thee to fail;
Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end,
Our maker, defender, redeemer and friend.

6. O measureless might, ineffable Love,
While angels delight to hymn thee above,
The humbler creation, Though feeble their lays,
With true adoration shall sing to thy praise.

O Christ, You Are the Light and Day / Christe Qui Lux Es Et Dies

A Quiet Night to Rest in You.

O Christ, You Are the Light and Day is a 1965 translation by the Reverend Michael M. Quinn, O.P. of Christe qui Lux es et Dies (see 2nd video), an ancient latin hymn used for Compline during Lent. It is set to the tune, Saint Anne written in 1708 by William Croft (1678-1727). Both JS Bach and GF Handel used it in their compositions. The melody is best known as the setting the Isaac Watts hymn: Our God, Our Help in Ages Past. In the Liturgy of the Hours, O Christ, You Are the Light and Day is used during Ordinary Time for Evening Prayer.


Tune: St. Anne

CHRISTE QUI LUX ES ET DIES  (Public Domain)

1. Christe qui lux es et dies,
Noctis tenebras detegis,
Lucisque lumen crederis,
Lumen beatum praedicans.

2. Precamur Sancte Domine,
Defende nos in hac nocte,
Sit nobis in te requies,
Quietam noctem tribue.

3. Ne gravis somnus irruat,
Nec hostis nos surripiat,
Nec caro illi consentiens,
Nos tibi reos statuat.

4. Oculi somnum capiant,
Cor ad te semper vigilet,
Dextera tua protegat
Famulos qui te diligunt.

5. Defensor noster aspice,
Insidiantes reprime,
Guberna tuos famulos,
Quos sanguine mercatus es.

6. Memento nostri Domine
In gravi isto corpore,
Qui es defensor animae,
Adesto nobis Domine.

 7. Deo Patri sit gloria,
Eiusque soli Filio,
Cum Spiritu Paraclito,
Et nunc et in perpetuum. Amen.


Traditional Chant