Today’s hymn of God’s sustaining faithfulness is an adaptation of Psalm 30 from The Psalter (1912). The Trinity Hymnal arranges the text to a tune by the great Irish-Italian composer Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900). It may be more commonly sung to another tune by Arthur Sullivan, but I stuck with the hymnal beside me and found the tune performed in the video here.

“I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up
and have not let my foes rejoice over me” (Ps. 30:1 ESV).

1 O Lord, by grace delivered,
I now with songs extol;
my foes you have not suffered
to glory o’er my fall.
O Lord, my God, I sought you,
and you did heal and save;
you, Lord, from death did ransom
and keep me from the grave.

2 His holy name remember;
you saints, Jehovah praise;
his anger lasts a moment,
his favor all our days;
for sorrow, like a pilgrim,
may tarry for a night,
but joy the heart will gladden
when dawns the morning light.

3 In prosp’rous days I boasted;
unmoved I shall remain;
for, Lord, by your good favor
my cause you did maintain;
I soon was sorely troubled,
for you did hide your face;
I cried to you, Jehovah,
I sought Jehovah’s grace.

4 What profit if I perish,
if life you do not spare?
Shall dust repeat your praises,
shall it your truth declare?
O Lord, on me have mercy,
and my petition hear;
that you may be my helper,
in mercy, Lord, appear.

5 My grief is turned to gladness,
to you my thanks I raise,
who have removed my sorrow
and girded me with praise;
and now, no longer silent,
my heart your praise will sing;
O Lord, my God, forever
my thanks to you I bring.

This is another of my favorite hymns. This adaptation of Psalm 23 is by Englishman H. W. Baker, Vicar of Monkland, Herefordshire (1821-1877). He reportedly recited this hymn’s third verse as his dying words. The beautiful tune is naturally traditional Irish, labeled “St. Columbia” in the books.

1 The King of love my shepherd is,
whose goodness faileth never.
I nothing lack if I am his,
and he is mine forever.

2 Where streams of living water flow,
my ransomed soul he leadeth;
and where the verdant pastures grow,
with food celestial feedeth.

3 Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed,
but yet in love he sought me;
and on his shoulder gently laid,
and home, rejoicing, brought me.

4 In death’s dark vale I fear no ill,
with thee, dear Lord, beside me;
thy rod and staff my comfort still,
thy cross before to guide me.

5 Thou spreadst a table in my sight;
thy unction grace bestoweth;
and oh, what transport of delight
from thy pure chalice floweth!

6 And so through all the length of days,
thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
within thy house forever.

This song differs from the usual congregational singing I share on Sundays. It’s a gorgeous arrangement of Psalm 100 with a few benedictory words at the end.

Here is the lyric as rendered in a 1982 Episcopal hymnal. I’ve always found the last verse to be marvelously triumphant music that should fill the earth.

O be joyful in the Lord all ye lands;
serve the Lord with gladness
and come before his presence with a song. [Ant.]

2. Be ye sure that the Lord he is God;
it is he that hath made us and not we ourselves;
we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. [Ant.]

3. O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving
and into his courts with praise;
be thankful unto him and speak good of his Name. [Ant.]

4. For the Lord is gracious;
his mercy is everlasting;
and his truth endureth from generation to generation. [Ant.]

5. Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning, is now, and
will be for ever. Amen.