Words: Par­a­phrase of Psalm 74; au­thor un­known.

Music: Leaf, ar­ranged from S. W. B., 1863.

If you know the au­thor or com­pos­er


O wherefore hast Thou cast us off,
O God, our God of old?
Why art Thou angry with Thy sheep,
The sheep of Thine own fold,
The sheep of Thine own fold?

Remember Thine inheritance,
Thy Church, redeemed by grace;
Remember Zion’s mount profaned,
Thine ancient dwelling place,
Thine ancient dwelling place.

In ruin long Thy temple lies;
Arise, O God of grace,
And see the ruin foes have wrought
Within Thy holy place,
Within Thy holy place.

Amid Thy courts are lifted high
The standards of the foe,
And impious hands with axe and fire
Have laid Thy temple low,
Have laid Thy temple low.

They have profaned the holy place
Where Thou hast set Thy Name,
The sanctuaries of our God
Are given to the flame,
Are given to the flame.

We see no signs of power divine,
No prophet speaks for Thee,
And none can tell, and none can know,
How long these woes shall be,
How long these woes shall be.

How long, O God, shall blasphemy
And shame reproach our land?
Why dost Thou not destroy Thy foes
With Thine almighty hand,
With Thine almighty hand?