Put forth the strength that He hath granted, Your noblest work is to adore; My soul and body, make ye meet With heartfelt praise your Lord to greet! 4 Ye forest leaves so green and tender, Help me to make His glory known! 5 O all things that have breath and motion, That throng with life, earth, sea, and sky, Now join me in my heart's devotion, 6 Dear Father, endless praise I render So richly spread on every side, 7 What equal praises can I offer, Dear Jesus, for Thy mercy shown? What pangs, my Savior, didst Thou suffer, And thus for all my sins atone! 8 Honor and praise, still onward reaching, Be Thine too, Spirit of all grace, Whose holy power and faithful teaching Give me among Thy saints a place: Whate'er of good in me may shine Comes only from Thy light divine. 9 Who grants abundant gifts to bless me? Who, but Thyself, O God of love? Who guards my ways lest fears oppress me? 'Tis Thou, Lord God of hosts, above! And when my sins Thy wrath provoke, Thy patience, Lord, forbears the stroke. 10 I kiss the rod, too, unrepining, When God His chastening makes me feel, My graces call for His refining, The trial works no lasting ill: 11 In life I often have discovered, With gratitude and glad surprise, When clouds of sorrows o'er me hovered, God sent from them my best supplies: In troubles He is ever near, And shows me all a Father's care. 12 Why not, then, with a faith unbounded, Rejoicing still in hope abide? Where doubt and sorrow never come? I cry, 13 No more low vanities regarding, To Thee, in whom I find my rest, my inmost soul according, "My God, Thou art the Highest, Best; Strength, honor, praise, and thanks, and power Be Thine, both now and evermore!" 14 Lord, I will tell, while I am living, Until my heart is still in death; 15 O Father, deign Thou, I beseech Thee, To listen to my earthly lays; A nobler strain in heav'n shall reach Thee, When I with angels hymn Thy praise, And learn amid their choirs to sing Loud hallelujahs to my King. 63 14, 14, 4, 7, 8 PRAISE to the Lord, the Almighty, the O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy Join the full throng; Wake, harp and psalter and song; 2 Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth, Who, as on wings of an eagle, uplifteth, sustaineth; Hast thou not seen How thy desires all have been Granted in what He ordaineth? 3 Praise to the Lord, who hath fearfully, wondrously made thee; Health hath vouchsafed, and when heedlessly falling hath stayed thee; What need or grief Ever hath failed of relief? Wings of His mercy did shade thee. 4 Praise to the Lord, who doth visibly bless and defend thee; Who, from the heavens, the streams of His mercy doth send thee; Ponder anew What the Almighty can do, If with His love He befriend thee! 5 Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him! All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him! He is thy Light; Soul, keep it always in sight, 64 6, 7, 6, 7, 6, 6, 6, 6 NOW thank we all our God With heart and hands and voices, 2 O may this bounteous God Through all this life be near us, With ever joyful hearts And blessed peace to cheer us; And guide us when perplexed, In this world and the next. 3 All praise and thanks to God 65 Whom earth and heaven adore; For thus it was, is now, And shall be evermore! 8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 7, 8, 7, 7 I WILL sing my Maker's praises Of His tender love to me. Nothing else but love could move Him, All who try to serve and love Him. 2 As an eagle spreadeth over Her young brood her sheltering wings, So the arm of God did cover Me against affliction's stings. He who life and being gave me, Even in my mother's womb, From the cradle to the tomb, He shall ever guard and save me. All things else have but their day, God's great love abides for aye. |