This page contains a number of hymns, and metrical psalms. The principle I have followed is to trace biblical doctrine and true Christian experience as a sung prayer. Where a psalm, hymn or spiritual song from the Old Testament book of psalms is put into metrical form, I have sought to be faithful to each stanza in the original and have not followed the practice those who have ‘Christianized’ compositions inspired by God’s Spirit.

David Harding

Other hymns

Communion 1

Communion 2

Psalms

A communion hymn

1 Now, the bread and wine are ready,
symbolising Christ our Lord.
These two elements unchanging,
show his body and his blood.
Through them we declare salvation,
ours, received by faith alone;
Christ, by death and substitution,
full and free salvation won.

2 Now, our Christian friends are ready,
on this resurrection day;
love, the chief of graces showing,
all offences put away;
each one saying to the other,
by this bread and cup of wine,
”We, in Christ’s death, are united,”
and this meal becomes the sign.

3 Now, my ransomed soul is ready,
I have searched for every sin;
those I found I have forsaken,
mercy sought by faith again.
Now, I look alone to Jesus,
as revealed within his word;
now, by faith, I see him dying,
and begin to love the Lord.

4 Now, we ask our risen Saviour,
who for judgment took our place,
to awaken our affections,
to revive us by his grace.
May we hate what should be hated;
may we love our gracious God;
love, forgive, receive, encourage,
all our brethren in the Lord.

Tune: 8787D

Praise

1 Let praise arise to God above,
who, knowing all I’d be,
loved me, though full of sin and shame,
and not for good in me;
gave me to Christ that I should have
a Saviour, Lord and Friend.
Let praise arise, from this time forth,
forever, without end.

2 Let praise arise! for God the Son;

true God, yet truly man,

loved me—and gave himself for me—

before the world began.

He lived the life I should have lived,

then died my death as well;

made sin, he bore the wrath of God,

taking my death and hell.

3 Let praise arise! the Spirit came

to work in Jesus’ place;

convicts, converts and comforts too;

the channel of God’s grace.

All good that I will ever do

comes from his power alone;

he is the guarantee I’m safe

until his work is done.

4 Let praise arise! shall I receive

such good from God above,

and yet resent him when I do

not understand his love?

Let praise arise! though for a while

I bear a heavy load;

my grieving heart acknowledges—

he is my Lord and God.

Tune:

Doxology Ephesians 3.20-21

Now to him who is well able
to exceed our prayer or thought,
as he works with power within us,
to this God be glory brought
in the church, by the Lord Jesus
unto all eternity -
Yes, may God be glory given.
Amen! May it ever be!

Tune: 8787D

Psalm 117

Praise Jehovah, Gentile nations,

Give him glory, everyone,

For his mercy without measure
is enough for all we’ve done;
and the truth of this Jehovah
will eternally endure.
Praise the LORD, O praise Jehovah,
Praise him now and evermore.

Tune: 8787D

Psalm 3

1 Lord, how many, and how quickly,

Those who now my soul oppress,

Multiply, and rise against me

Causing me so much distress;

“You are helpless! All is hopeless!

It is out of God’s control.”

This is what they keep on saying

Seeking to depress my soul.

2 You, O LORD, are my defender,

(I sleep safely in my bed,)

You’re my shield, and you’re my glory,

lifting up my weary head.

When I cried out to Jehovah,

faith was sure that he would hear;

in his holy hill he listened,

answering my urgent prayer.

3 So, I lay down with assurance;

all the night I deeply slept.

I awoke, the LORD sustained me,

through the night my soul he’d kept.

I will not fear tens of thousands

who against me gather round.

Rise, Jehovah, God my Saviour—

as I pray I hear a sound—

4 The ungodly’s teeth are broken:

you have struck them on the cheek,

(In their plans they are defeated

and they can no longer speak.)

For salvation is Jehovah’s—

let this always be our song

And his blessing’s on his people—

what they said is proven wrong!

My soul cries

1. My soul cries, “O wretched person!
who will ever set me free?
What great opposites do battle,
while I long for victory.”

There’s the Law, so good, so holy,
there is sin, vile power within;
wrong desires arise, deceive me,
kill me, down I fall in sin.

2. Does God’s Law produce the problem?
Never! Rather it is sin
taking what’s good, finding occasion,
to deceive and work within;

what I will I do not practice―
what I hate, I do again!
With God’s Law I am agreeing,
but by sin I’m quickly slain.

3. Therefore, it’s not I who’s sinning,
though it’s I who does the wrong;
this is not a contradiction,
sin is wicked, sin is strong.
Sin is seen in all its evil,
as it takes God’s good commands,
stirring up my soul to evil,
makes me do what it demands.

4. Thank God, there is help from heaven,
Christ has come to set me free,
Our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,
breaks the power of sin in me.
I, myself, the Law now serving,
loving, choosing all that’s right.
Though my flesh still sins, the Saviour
gives me strength to will, to fight.

5. Had he left me as he found me,
I would never feel this way.
I would sin, without a conscience,
drift along from day to day.
Here’s the evidence he’s saved me―
a great conflict has begun.
Praise God, his good work’s ongoing,
He’ll complete, what he’s begun.

This great conflict will be over,
there’s a day when sin will die.

when my spirit leaves this body
”It is finished!” I will cry.
Then I’ll wait the resurrection
when I’ll be complete again;
Then at last no sin, no suffering,
Praise to God alone in heaven!

A communion hymn

Come, my brothers, see the emblems,
bread and wine, so simply laid,
speak of Christ, our glorious Saviour,
who a full atonement made;
beaten, bruised and broken body,
hanging naked on a tree,
crowned with thorns, accursed by heaven―
eat this bread― “Remember Me.”

Come, my sisters, take the emblems,
bread and wine for everyone;
the New Covenant established
in the blood of God’s own Son;
precious blood that seals salvation,
shed by Christ at Calvary
whip, thorns, spear and nails all piercing―
drink this cup― “Remember Me.”

Come then, you who love the Saviour;
come and look within your heart,
are there sins not yet forsaken
and from which you will not part?
Look at what the Saviour suffered,
look until you truly see,
leave that sin, receive fresh cleansing―
Hear his call― “Remember Me.”

8787D

A call to come to Christ

(download pdf file including music)

Come, my neighbours, to the Saviour,

through his word he calls today.

What excuses can you give him

if you turn and go away?

Might your family reject you?

Friends may laugh― it's true, they may―

but these trials are worth the bearing;

where's the reason for delay?

And you children, you are welcome,

you are young, but hear his word;

with your life stretched out before you,

you need him to be your Lord.

Now, before your heart grows harder,

now, before your sin grows strong;

he has died to be your Saviour

to reject him is so wrong.

What of older people with us?

You should be the most afraid.

Most of life is now behind you;

think of all you've done and said.

You may hope God will accept you;

you may think you have been good,

but if you could earn salvation

why did Jesus shed his blood?

Let us all come to the Saviour,

can we doubt his saving power?

From sin's penalty, atonement,

justifies forevermore.

From sin's power he gives deliverance,

we can live in purity;

what a prospect is before us―

freed from sin, eternally.

Tune: Joel

Psalm 4

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

1 When I call to you please answer,

O God of my righteousness!

As you have relieved my troubles

when I was in deep distress,

now be gracious, now be gracious.

Hear me in my prayerfulness.

2 How long, O men, will you transform

all the glory of my fame?

Loving vain talk, looking for lies;

eager for some point of blame—

Now consider! Now consider!

As you seek to cause me shame.

3 Be assured the Lord Jehovah

all the godly sets apart.

They are his, and when I call him

he will hear me when I start.

Now consider! Now consider!

Let these thoughts be in your heart.

4 Yes, be angry where it’s proper,

But no sinful wrath display.

As you’re resting do some thinking

then be silent, no more say.

Trust Jehovah! Trust Jehovah!

Give right sacrifice today.

5 There are many asking questions,

“Who will show us any good?”

Lift the light of your face on us,

my heart’s full of your joy, LORD.

I’m more happy, I’m more happy,

than they are when filled with food.

6 So, in peace I come to evening,

I will lay down on my bed,

sleep will come, O LORD, I know it,

worry doesn’t fill my head,

for Jehovah, for Jehovah,

keeps me safe from every dread

Tune: 878787 Neandor

Psalm 5

1 Give ear to my words, O my LORD

consider all my thought

2 Give heed to my cry, God my King,

I’ll pray just as I ought.

3 Each morning you will hear my voice

at break of day, OLORD,

I will look up to you in heaven,

and there direct my word.

4 For you are not a God for whom

wickedness gives delight,

5 evil shall never dwell with you,

nor boasters in your sight.

6 All those who lie and falsehood speak

you will annihilate;

deceivers and bloodthirsty men,

the LORD will always hate

8686D

Psalm 6

1 To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. On an eight-stringed harp. A Psalm of David.

O LORD, in wrath rebuke me not;

nor chasten when your rage is hot.

2 O LORD, have mercy, I am weak;

Heal me, O LORD, for my bones shake.

3 My soul is also much afraid,

LORD, how long will you be delayed?

4. Rescue, O LORD, to me turn back

O Save me for your mercies’ sake.

5 For none remember you when dead;

who thanks you if the grave’s their bed?

6 I’m weary; constantly I groan,

All through the night when I’m alone.

Also, my bed with tears is wet;

I drench my couch with tears, and yet

7 My eye grows old, consumed with grief,

as my foes give me no relief

8 Depart! Get far away from me,

you workers of iniquity.

The LORD has heard my tearful cry;

9 The LORD at last has heard my plea;

the LORD responds to my appeal:

10 Let all my foes ashamèd feel

So troubled, may they ever be

ashamed, turned back—immediately!

Tune: 888888

Psalm 13

How long, Lord, will you forget me?

Will it be eternally?

How long shall your face be hidden,

And these questions rise in me?

How long shall such constant sorrows

Fill my heart from day to day?

How long will my enemy triumph

being exalted over me?

O consider! O please hear me!

Lord my God, lighten my eye,

or death’s sleep will overtake me;

and my enemy will cry,

“I have now prevailed against him”;

(May it never, never be!)

Hear me, lest when I start sliding,

They rejoice who trouble me

But, as always, so for ever

I have placed my trust in You.

To your mercy I am looking;

Your salvation’s my heart’s joy.

I will sing unto Jehovah

For he gives abundantly;

He has blessed with countless blessings;

he completes his work in me.

Tune: 8787D

Psalm 62

1 For God my soul in silence waits,
from him comes my salvation.

He only is my rock, and he
alone my consolation.

Defence comes from my God for me,
moved I shall not so greatly be.

(Repeat last line)

2 How long will you attack a man?
Each one of you is to be slain.
Down you shall go, like tottering fence,
and like an unsafe wall you lean.
They love their lies, so, though they bless,
their hearts secretly wish a curse.

3 For God, my soul, in silence wait,
from him my expectation.

He only is my rock and he
alone is my salvation.

Defence comes from my God for me,
moved I shall never, never be.

4 Salvation for me is in God,
and in him all my glory.

In God, the rock, I find my strength;
my refuge in my God shall be.
Pour out your hearts and trust the Lord:
refuge for us is found in God.

5 A vapour, men of low degree,
and famous men, a lie, a dream.
When all of them on scales are laid,
their combined weight is less than steam.
Don’t trust by robbery to get,
nor on increased wealth your heart set.

6 God has revealed and spoken once¾
I this same message twice have heard¾
that power to God alone belongs,
as mercy does as well, O Lord.
You give to each one as he’s done;
his own work rendered to each one.

Ó David Harding

Tune 888888 for instance: On Christ the solid rock I stand