Halifax (William Billings)
Music files
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- CPDL #32322:
- Editor: Barry Johnston (submitted 2014-06-27). Score information: Letter, 1 page, 29 kB Copyright: Public Domain
- Edition notes: Oval-note edition. Transcribed from The Singing-Master's Assistant, 1778.
- CPDL #32323:
- Editor: Barry Johnston (submitted 2014-06-27). Score information: Letter (landscape), 1 page, 29 kB Copyright: Public Domain
- Edition notes: Note shapes added (4-shape).
General Information
Title: Halifax
First Line: Not to our names, Thou only just and true
Composer: William Billings
Lyricist: Isaac Watts
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Sacred, Hymn Meter: 10 10. 10 10. 10 10
Language: English
Instruments: A cappella
Published: 1778
Description: Words by Isaac Watts, 1709, adaptation of Psalm 115.
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
Not to our names, Thou only just and true,
Not to our worthless names is glory due;
Thy power and grace, Thy truth and justice, claim
Immortal honors to Thy sovereign name:
Shine through the earth from heaven, Thy blest abode
Nor let the heathens say, "And where's your God?"
Heaven is Thine higher court, there stands Thy throne,
And through the lower worlds Thy will is done;
Our God framed all this earth, these heavens He spread;
But fools adore the gods their hands have made:
The kneeling crowd, with looks devout, behold
Their silver saviors, and their saints of gold.
O nation, trust the Lord: thy foes in vain
Attempt thy ruin, and oppose His reign;
Had they prevailed, darkness had closed our days,
And death and silence had forbid His praise:
But we are saved, and live; let songs arise,
And let us bless the God that built the skies.