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.
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!!!
I am totally “LOST IN WONDER, LOVE AND PRAISE”.
The last stanza…verse #6…
Change “immeasurable” to INFINITE.
Change “true adoration” to PROFOUND.
Change “shall sing” to REDOUNDS.