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O God, Our Help in Ages Past

Also known as: Our God, Our Help in Ages Past

Author: Isaac Watts
Composer: William Croft
Year: 1719
Style: traditional
Public Domain
★★★★★ Doctrinally Excellent
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Theological Analysis

Isaac Watts's masterful paraphrase of Psalm 90, often considered the finest English hymn ever written. It powerfully contrasts God's eternality with human transience. The theology is impeccable — God as shelter, defense, and eternal home.

Theological Strengths

  • Masterful paraphrase of Psalm 90 by Isaac Watts
  • One of the greatest hymns in the English language
  • Powerful theology of God's eternality and human frailty
  • Rich imagery: 'time like an ever rolling stream'
  • Public domain, universally known

AI Theological Check

Chord Chart

  O C God, our F help in C ages G past,
  Our Am hope for Dm years to G come,
  Our C shelter F from the C stormy Am blast,
  And C our eternal G7  C home!
  Under C the shadow F of Thy C  G throne
  Still Am may we Dm dwell G secure;
  Sufficient C is F Thine arm C  Am alone,
  And C our defense G7 is C sure.
  Before C the hills F in order C  G stood,
  Or Am earth received Dm her G frame,
  From C everlasting F Thou art C  Am God,
  To C endless years G7 the C same.
  A C thousand ages, F in Thy C  G sight,
  Are Am like an Dm evening G gone;
  Short C as F the watch C that Am ends the night,
  Before C the rising G7  C sun.
  Time, C like an F ever rolling C  G stream,
  Bears Am all who Dm breathe G away;
  They C fly F forgotten, as C a Am dream
  Dies C at the G7 opening C day.
  O C God, our F help in C ages G past,
  Our Am hope for Dm years to G come;
  Be C Thou F our guide C while Am life shall last,
  And C our eternal G7  C home!

Sheet Music

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Full Lyrics

O God, our help in ages past,

Our hope for years to come,

Our shelter from the stormy blast,

And our eternal home!

Under the shadow of Thy throne

Still may we dwell secure;

Sufficient is Thine arm alone,

And our defense is sure.

Before the hills in order stood,

Or earth received her frame,

From everlasting Thou art God,

To endless years the same.

A thousand ages, in Thy sight,

Are like an evening gone;

Short as the watch that ends the night,

Before the rising sun.

Time, like an ever rolling stream,

Bears all who breathe away;

They fly forgotten, as a dream

Dies at the opening day.

O God, our help in ages past,

Our hope for years to come;

Be Thou our guide while life shall last,

And our eternal home!

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