Psalm 71 (Version 3, Part 3)

God of my childhood and my youth,

The guide of all my days,

I have declar'd thy heavenly truth,

And told thy wondrous ways.

Wilt thou forsake my hoary hairs,

And leave my fainting heart?

Who shall sustain my sinking years

If God my strength depart?

Let me thy power and truth proclaim

To the surviving age,

And leave a savour of thy Name

When I shall quit the stage.

The land of silence and of death

Attends my next remove;

O may these poor remains of breath

Teach the wide world thy love.

Thy righteousness is deep and high,

Unsearchable thy deeds;

Thy glory spreads beyond the sky,

And all my praise exceeds.

Oft have I heard thy threatenings roar,

And oft endur'd the grief;

But when thy hand has press'd me sore,

Thy grace was my relief.

By long experience have I known

Thy sovereign power to save;

At thy command I venture down

Securely to the grave.

When I lie buried deep in dust,

My flesh shall be thy care

These withering limbs with thee I trust

To raise them strong and fair.