O That the Race of Men Would Raise

O that the race of men would raise
Their voices to their heav’nly King,
And with the sacrifice of praise
The glories of Jehovah sing!
Ye navigators of the sea,
Your course on ocean’s tides who keep,
And there Jehovah’s wonders see,
His wonders in the briny deep!

He speaks; conflicting whirlwinds fly;
The waves in swelling torrents flow;
They mount, aspire to heaven on high;
They sink, as if to hell below:
Their souls with terror melt away;
They stagger as if drunk with wine
Their skill is vain, to Thee they pray;
O, save them, Energy divine!

He stays the storm; the waves subside;
Their hearts with rapture are inspired;
Soft breezes waft them o’er the tide,
In gladness, to their port desired:
O that mankind the song would raise,
Jehovah’s goodness to proclaim!
Assembled nations shout His praise,
Assembled elders bless His Name!

Author: Nahum Tate and Nicholas Brady

Year: 1696

This is a metrical paraphrase of Psalm 107 from the New Version of the Psalms of David (Tate and Brady, 1696). The language, structure, and specific phrasing (e.g., 'sacrifice of praise', 'navigators of the sea', 'briny deep') match their rendering of the psalm.