A hymn of praise to God for his care and protection in time of great need.
Most of our metrical psalms in the Hymnary are from the Scottish Psalter, 1650. (See under [Hymn 575].) But this one is from the revised edition of 1698, of the New Version of the Psalms first published in England in 1696, by the two Irishmen, Tate and Brady. This version partly supplanted in England the older version of Sternhold and Hopkins.
Nahum Tate, 1652-1715, son of an Irish clergyman, was a literary man, playwright, and a poet. Finally, to the surprise of everyone, he became poet laureate, by appointment of William III.
Nicholas Brady, 1659-1726?, received the degree of D.D. from Dublin University and had a varied clerical career in Ireland and England, finally becoming chaplain to King William. Brady and Tate collaborated to produce the New Version, a work which received royal endorsement and was officially adopted in England. Though better in smoothness and literary grace than the versions of Sternhold and Hopkins, very little of it remains in modern hymnals. This hymn and “As pants the hart,” ([586]), are among the gems still in use. “While shepherds watched their flocks by night” ([73] and [74]) a masterly adaptation of the Nativity story, appeared in the supplement of the New Version, 1703, and is found today in nearly all hymnals.
MUSIC. WILTSHIRE, known in Scotland as “New St. Ann,” appeared first in Divine Amusement, by Sir G. Grant, set to Psalm 48. The tune appears with variants in other collections.
The composer, George Thomas Smart, 1776-1867, was an organist and composer and a popular conductor of choral groups in London. He gave lessons in singing and harpsichord and composed anthems, chants and psalm tunes.
584. O children, hither do ye come
Psalm XXXIV
Scottish Psalter, 1650
Psalm 34:11-19. The Goodness of God.