HYMN: How Long, O Lord, Will You Forget

I am not particularly good at judging the merit of my own work. This is true across most aspects of my work as a writer. Or any of my work, for that matter, considering how I seem to be received by those whose responsibility it has been to be my greatest sources of feedback and support...but that's another matter. Anyway, I was thinking about my most recent hymn text, "How Long Will You Forget," which I posted not too long ago. It's not a bad text, as far as it goes, but it could be better. I decided to start over with the same base text, Psalm 13, and try a different meter. So I moved from a 66 77 77 scheme to Long Meter, which is 88 88. I went from 18 lines to 16, but it enabled me to emphasize some thoughts in a different way. The new text uses the tune WINDHAM, which is hymn 429 in Lutheran Service Book, "We Sing the Praise of Him Who Died."

Compare the two and let me know what you think. Feedback is love.

How Long, O Lord, Will You Forget

1. How long, O Lord, will You forget?

Your servant is by grief beset.

Your face from me is turned away.

My heart is anguished all the day.

2. As vengeful enemies rejoice, 

I long to hear Your wondrous voice.

In boundless grace be near to me.

Consider, Lord, and answer me.

3. Oh, silence every fearsome foe.

Preserve my life from death and woe.

I trust Your steadfast love, O Lord,

Revealed through Your most holy Word.

4. My Savior dear, Lord Jesus Christ,

Who for my sake was sacrificed,

Forever I will sing Your praise

For blessings shown through endless days. 

LM (88 88)

WINDHAM (LSB 429)

Psalm 13; Tribulation