O worship the King,
all glorious above!
O gratefully sing
his power and his love!
Our shield and defender,
the Ancient of Days,
pavilioned in splendor,
and girded with praise.

O tell of his might!
O sing of his grace!
Whose robe is the light,
whose canopy space.
His chariots of wrath
the deep thunderclouds form,
and dark is his path
on the wings of the storm.

The earth, with its store
of wonders untold,
Almighty, thy power
hath founded of old,
hath ‘stablished it fast
by a changeless decree,
and round it hath cast,
like a mantle, the sea.

Thy bountiful care,
what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air;
it shines in the light;
it streams from the hills,
it descends to the plain,
and sweetly distills
in the dew and the rain.

Frail children of dust,
and feeble as frail,
in thee do we trust,
nor find thee to fail;
thy mercies, how tender!
How firm to the end!
Our Maker, Defender,
Redeemer, and Friend!

O measureless Might,
ineffable Love,
while angels delight
to worship thee above,
the humbler creation,
though feeble their lays,
with true adoration
shall all sing thy praise.

3 COMMENTS

  1. Of any Christian hymn ever written, in my opinion it is the ultimate in rhyme, and rhythm, style and majesty, more splendid in beauty of expressive language, that wraps my soul in indescribable rapture…
    The author was indeed in the very Presence of God, as he penned the words…

    O worship the King,
    All Glorious above,
    O gratefully sing
    His Power and His Love,
    Our Shield and Defender
    The Ancient of Days,
    Pavilioned in splendour,
    And girded with praise.

    O tell of His might,
    O sing of His grace,
    Whose robe is the light
    Whose canopy space.
    His chariots of wrath
    The deep thunder clouds form
    And dark is His path
    On the wings of the storm.

    (My heart is inditing a good matter, as I am carried by the ocean swell, hearing angelic voices as the hymn progresses in pathos and sheer momentum, towards the inevitable crescendo…).

    The earth with its store
    Of wonders untold,
    Almighty Thy power
    Hath founded of old.
    Hath stablished it fast
    By a changeless decree,
    And round it hath cast
    Like a mantle, the sea.

    Thy bountiful care
    What tongue can recite
    It breathes in the air
    It shines in the light.
    It streams from the hills
    It descends to the plain,
    And sweetly distils
    In the dew and the rain.

    (As I approach the aforementioned crescendo, I am transported into the very Presence of God Himself)

    Frail children of dust
    And feeble as frail,
    In Thee do we trust,
    Nor find Thee to fail.
    Thy mercies now tender
    How firm to the end,
    Our Maker, Defender
    Redeemer and Friend.

    O measureless Might
    Ineffable Love
    While angels delight
    To hymn Thee above.
    Thy humbler creation
    Though feeble their lays,
    With true adoration
    Shall sing to Thy praise.

    Amen and Amen!!!

  2. The last stanza…verse #6…

    Change “immeasurable” to INFINITE.

    Change “true adoration” to PROFOUND.

    Change “shall sing” to REDOUNDS.

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