Psalm 4

To be honest, Watts struggles with Psalm 4. The long meter version struggles along, though it contains one or two gems; and the common meter version is a little pedestrian. Just like the Scottish Metrical versions of the psalms, Watts strives to put Hebrew poetry into singable English; sometimes he fails. Nevertheless, there are some memorable phrases. "How long will scoffers love to lie" complains the Psalmist in the second stanza. By the fourth stanza he has realized that all the works of human righteousness are worth nothing at the side of God's pardoning grace, made known in Christ. That would have been a good place to stop; unfortunately, Watts decided to continue to the bitter end. I can't imagine us singing the sixth stanza today. However, this shouldn't prevent us from seeing the underlying truth - we cannot satisfy our hungering hearts with anything this world can supply. Grace alone satisfies.

O God of grace and righteousness,

Hear and attend while I complain;

Thou hast enlarg'd me in distress,

Bow down a gracious ear again.

Ye sons of men, in vain ye try

To turn my glory into shame;

How long will scoffers love to lie,

And dare reproach my Savior's name?

Know that the Lord divides His saints

From all the tribes of men beside;

He hears the cry of penitents

For the dear sake of Christ who dy'd.

When our obedient hands have done

A thousand works of righteousness,

We put our trust in God alone,

And glory in His pard'ning grace.

Let the unthinking many say,

Who will bestow some earthly good?

But, Lord, Thy light and love we pray;

Our souls desire this heavenly food.

Then shall my cheerful powers rejoice

At grace and favor so divine;

Nor will I change my happy choice

For all their corn and all their wine.