3. We stand bereft of help and poor and lonely; ’Twere vain to trust in man. With Thee, Lord, only We may defeat the enemies around us Who seek to wound us. 4. Thou art our Champion, who canst overthrow them And save the little flock now crushed below them. We trust in Thee; for Jesus’ sake be near us; Help, Helper, hear us! J. Heermann, 1630; C. Winkworth, tr. 281 L. M. No change of time shall ever shock My firm affection, Lord, to Thee; For Thou hast always been a Rock, A Fortress, and Defense to me. 2. Thou my Deliverer art, my God; My trust is in Thy mighty power. Thou art my Shield from foes abroad; At home, my Safeguard and my Tower. 3. To Thee I will address my prayer, To whom all praise we justly owe; So shall I, by Thy watchful care, Be guarded safe from every foe. 4. Let the eternal Lord be praised, The Rock on whose defense I rest. O’er highest heavens His name be raised Who me with His salvation blest. Ps. 18. Tate and Brady, 1698, abr. 282 8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7 Had God not come, may Israel say, Had God not come to aid us, Our enemies before this day Would surely have dismayed us; For we are but a handful small, Held in contempt and scorn by all, All men rise up against us. 2. Their furious Wrath, did God permit, Would surely have consumed us And in the deep and yawning pit With life and limb entombed us; Like men o’er whom dark waters roll, The streams had gone e’en o’er our soul And mightily o’erwhelmed us. 3. Blest be the Lord, who from the pit Snatched us when it was gaping; Our souls, like birds that break the net, To the blue skies escaping; The snare is broken—we are free! Our help is ever, Lord, in Thee, The God of earth and heaven. Ps. 124. Martin Luther, 1525; R. Massie, tr., a. 283 L. M. When Rome had shrouded earth in night, God said again, Let there be light! And Luther with the Gospel came To spread the truth in Jesus’ name. 2. When Rome the saints of God oppressed, And burdened souls could find no rest, Through Luther God deliv’rance sent By His pure Word and Sacrament. 3. Though hosts against us stand arrayed, Christ bids us still, Be not afraid. Though all its powers the truth assail, The gates of hell shall not prevail. 4. To-day with joyful hearts we sing The guardian care of Christ, our King, Who through His chosen instrument To us hath this salvation sent.