These Are My JOTtings, Part #2

Our Very Present Help

"1 Our God, He lives as Rock, and Rest,
our help in trouble, now.
His Refuge, Strength, do make us blest
in daily need, we bow.

2 We, therefore, will not have a fear
e'en though the earth be moved,
and though the mountains very near
into the sea be shoved.

3 Though waters, thereof, troubled be,
and mountains shake anon.
The waters thereof roar to free
the swelling seas as done.

With Selah rest, we think about
the Scripture Truth just poured we out.

4 There is a river and its streams,
whereof we shall make glad
the city of our God, that gleams
the holy place the most High has had.

5 Our God is in the midst of her;
she shall not e'er be moved:
Our God shall be the help of her,
and that quite early proved.

6 The heathen raged, insanely mad,
the kingdoms all were moved:
He uttered, loud, His voice, (I'm glad,)
The earth as wax reproved.

7 The Lord of hosts, He goes with us,
and Jacob's God o'ersees.
Directions made He tells us thus,
and hiding us He frees.

With Selah rest, we think about
the Scripture Truth just poured we out.

8 Come, look at all, that God hath made,
What devastations wrought!
He builds the ones, that Him obeyed,
the rest of earth besought.

9 He maketh wars to cease on Earth;
He breakest down the bow,
He cuts the spear for all it's worth;
the chariot is burning tow.

10 Be still, and know, that I am God:
I will exalted be.
In heathen lands, I will be awed,
the Earth my face will see.

11 The Lord of hosts with us remains;
the God of Jacob stays.
The Lord of hosts took all our pains,
that we'd be with Him all our days.

With Selah rest, we think about
the Scripture Truth just poured we out."

(Psalm 46:1-11 in iambic meter, Jay's Paraphrase)

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The Original Text

"1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore will not we fear,
though the earth be removed,
and though the mountains
be carried into the midst of the sea;

3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,
though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.

Selah.

4 There is a river,
the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God,
the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

5 God is in the midst of her;
she shall not be moved:
God shall help her,
and that right early.

6 The heathen raged,
the kingdoms were moved:
he uttered his voice,
the earth melted.

7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Selah.

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
what desolations he hath made in the earth.

9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth;
he breaketh the bow,
and cutteth the spear in sunder;
he burneth the chariot in the fire.

10 Be still,
and know that I am God:
I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth.

11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Selah."

(Psalm 46:1-11, KJV)

by Jay O’Toole
on September 16th, 2020