God's praises sound,
As in his sight,
With sweet delight,
You do abound.
All nations of the earth
Extol the world's great King
With melody and mirth
His glorious praises sing;
For he still reigns,
And will bring low
The proudest foe
That him disdains.
Sing forth Jehovah's praise
Ye saints that on him call;
Magnify him always
His holy churches all;
In him rejoice,
And thus proclaim
His holy name
With sounding voice.
My soul, bear thou thy part;
Triumph in God above;
With a full-tunéd heart,
Sing thou the songs of love.
Thou art his own,
Whose precious blood,
Shed for thy good,
His love made known.
He did in love begin,
Renewing thee by grace,
Forgiving all thy sin,
Showed thee his pleased face.
He did thee heal
By his Son's merit,
And by his Spirit
For glory seal.
In saddest thoughts and grief,
In sickness, fears, and pain,
I cried for his relief,
And it was not in vain.
He heard with speed;
And still I found
Mercy abound,
In time of need.
Let not his praises grow
On prosperous heights alone;
But in the vales below
Let his great love be known.
Let no distress
Curb and control
My wingéd soul,
And praise suppress.
Let not the fear or smart
Of his chastising rod,
Take off my fervent heart
From praising any dear God.
Though I lose friends and wealth,
And bear reproach and shame;
Though I lose ease and health,
Still let me praise God's name.
That fear and pain
Which would destroy
My thanks and joy,
Do thou restrain.
Though human help depart,
And flesh draw near to dust,
Let faith keep up my heart,
To love God true and just:
And all my days
Let no disease
Cause me to cease
His joyful praise.
Though sin would make me doubt,
And fill my soul with fears,
Though God seems to shut out
My daily cries and tears:
By no such frost
Of sad delays,
Let thy sweet praise
Be nipped and lost.
Away, distrustful care!
I have thy promise, Lord,
To banish all despair,
I have thy oath and word.
And therefore I
Shall see thy face,
And there thy grace
Shall magnify.
Though sin and death conspire
To rob thee of thy praise,
Still towards thee I'll aspire,
And thou dull hearts canst raise.
Open thy door;
And when grim death
Shall stop this breath,
I'll praise thee more.
With thy triumphant flock
Then I shall numbered be;
Built on th' eternal rock,
His glory we shall see.
The heavens so high
With praise shall ring,
And all shall sing
The sun is but a spark
From the eternal light:
Tis brightest beams are dark
To that most glorious sight:
There the whole choir,
With one accord,
Shall praise the Lord
For evermore.
My soul, be on thy guard,
Ten thousand foes arise;
The hosts of sin are pressing hard
To draw thee from the skies.
O watch, and fight, and pray;
The battle ne'er give o'er;
Renew it boldly every day,
And help divine implore.
Ne'er think the victory won,
Nor once at ease sit down;
The work of faith will not be done
Till thou hast got thy crown.
Then persevere till death
Shall bring thee to thy God;
He'll take thee, at thy parting breath, To his divine abode.
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