10 Give thanks to G.o.d the heavenly King; His mercies still endure!
Let the whole earth his praises sing; His truth is ever sure.
Psalm 136:2. As the 148th Psalm.
G.o.d's wonders of creation, providence, redemption of Israel, and salvation of his people.
1 Give thanks to G.o.d most high, The universal Lord; The sovereign King of kings; And be his grace ador'd.
His power and grace Are still the same; And let his Name Have endless praise.
2 How mighty is his hand!
What wonders hath he done!
He form'd the earth and seas, And spread the heavens alone.
Thy mercy, Lord, Shall still endure; And ever sure Abides thy word.
3 His wisdom fram'd the sun To crown the day with light; The moon and twinkling stars To cheer the darksome night.
His power and grace Are still the same; And let his Name Have endless praise.
4 [He smote the first-born Sons, The flower of Egypt, dead: And thence his chosen tribes With joy and glory led.
Thy mercy, Lord, Shall still endure; And ever sure Abides thy word.
5 His power and lifted rod Cleft the Red-sea in two: And for his people made A wondrous pa.s.sage thro'.
His power and grace Are still the same; And let his Name Have endless praise.
6 But cruel Pharaoh there With all his host he drown'd; And brought his Israel safe Thro' a long desert ground.
Thy mercy, Lord, Shall still endure; And ever sure Abides thy word.
PAUSE.
The kings of Canaan fell Beneath his dreadful hand: While his own servants took Possession of their land.
His power and grace Are still the same; And let his name Have endless praise.]
8 He saw the nations lie All perishing in sin, And pity'd the sad state The ruin'd world was in.
Thy mercy, Lord, Shall still endure; And ever sure Abides thy word.
9 He sent his only Son To save us from our woe, From Satan sin and death, And every hurtful foe.
His power and grace Are still the same; And let his Name Have endless praise.
10 Give thanks aloud to G.o.d, To G.o.d the heavenly King; And let the s.p.a.cious earth His works and glories sing.
Thy mercy, Lord, Shall still endure; And ever sure Abides thy word.
Psalm 136:3. Abridged. L. M.
G.o.d's wonders of creation, providence, redemption and salvation.
1 Give to our G.o.d immortal praise; Mercy and truth are all his ways: 'Wonders of grace to G.o.d belong, 'Repeat his mercies in your song.'
2 Give to the Lord of lords renown, The King of kings with glory crown: 'His mercies ever shall endure, 'When' lords and kings are known 'no more.'
3 He built the earth, he spread the sky, And fix'd the starry lights on high; 'Wonders of grace to G.o.d belong, 'Repeat his mercies in your song.'
4 He fills the sun with morning light, He bids the moon direct the night: 'His mercies ever shall endure, 'When' suns and moons shall shine 'no more.'
5 The Jews he freed from Pharaoh's hand, And brought them to the promis'd land; 'Wonders of grace to G.o.d belong, 'Repeat his mercies in your song.'
6 He saw the Gentiles dead in sin, And felt his pity work within: 'His mercies ever shall endure, 'When' death and sin shall reign 'no more.'
7 He sent his Son with power to save From guilt, and darkness, and the grave: 'Wonders of grace to G.o.d belong, 'Repeat his mercies in your song.'
8 Thro' this vain world he guides our feet, And leads us to his heavenly seat: 'His mercies ever shall endure, 'When' this vain world shall be 'no more.'
Psalm 138.
Restoring and preserving grace.
1 [With all my powers of heart and tongue I'll praise my Maker in my song: Angels shall hear the notes I raise, Approve the song, and join the praise.
2 Angels that make thy church their care Shall witness my devotions there, While holy zeal directs my eyes To thy fair temple in the skies.]
3 I'll sing thy truth and mercy, Lord, I'll sing the wonders of thy word; Not all thy works and names below So much thy power and glory show.
4 To G.o.d I cry'd when troubles rose; He heard me, and subdu'd my foes, He did my rising fears control, And strength diffus'd thro' all my soul.
5 The G.o.d of heaven maintains his state, Frowns on the proud and scorns the great; But from his throne descends to see The sons of humble poverty.
6 Amidst a thousand snares I stand Upheld and guarded by thy hand; Thy words my fainting soul revive, And keep my dying faith alive.
7 Grace will complete what grace begins, To save from sorrows or from sins; The work that wisdom undertakes Eternal mercy ne'er forsakes.
Psalm 139:1. First Part. L. M.
The all-seeing G.o.d.
1 Lord, thou hast search'd and seen me thro'; Thine eye commands with piercing view My rising and my resting hours, My heart and flesh with all their powers.
2 My thoughts, before they are my own, Are to my G.o.d distinctly known; He knows the words I mean to speak Ere from my opening lips they break.
3 Within thy circling power I stand; On every side I find thy hand: Awake, asleep, at home, abroad, I am surrounded still with G.o.d.
4 Amazing knowledge, vast and great!
What large extent! what lofty height!
My soul, with all the powers I boast, Is in the boundless prospect lost.
5 "O may these thoughts possess my breast, "Where'er I rove where'er I rest!
"Nor let my weaker pa.s.sions dare "Consent to sin, for G.o.d is there."
PAUSE I.
6 Could I so false, so faithless prove, To quit thy service and thy love, Where, Lord, could I thy presence shun, Or from thy dreadful glory run?