Scripture Verse

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. Revelation 5:12

Introduction

portrait
Felice de Giardini (1716–1796)
National Portrait Gallerybutton

Words: James All­en, in the ap­pen­dix to the Ken­dal Hymn Book, se­cond edi­tion, 1761. Ju­li­an, pag­es 428–29, says the words have been at­trib­ut­ed to Va­ri­ous oth­er au­thors, but that his re­search con­clud­ed Al­len’s ver­sion was the orig­in­al.

Music: Ital­ian Hymn Fe­li­ce de Gi­ar­di­ni, in The Col­lect­ion of Psalm and Hymn Tunes Sung at the Cha­pel of the Lock Hos­pi­tal, 1769 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

  • Abbey Dore Sam­uel S. Wes­ley, in A Se­lect­ion of Psalms and Hymns, by Charles Kem­ble (Lon­don: John F. Shaw, 1864), num­ber 98 (🔊 pdf nwc)

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of All­en (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Glory to God on high,
Let prais­es fill the sky!
Praise ye His name.
Angels His name adore,
Who all our sor­rows bore,
And saints cry ev­er­more,
Worthy the Lamb!

All they around the throne
Cheerfully join in one,
Praising His name.
We who have felt His blood,
Sealing our peace with God,
Spread His dear name abroad—
Worthy the Lamb!

To Him our hearts we raise—
None else shall have our praise;
Praise ye His name.
Him our ex­alt­ed Lord,
By us be­low adored,
We praise with one ac­cord—
Worthy the Lamb!

If we should hold our peace,
Stones would cry out apace;
Praise ye His name!
Love does our souls in­spire,
With heav’n­ly, pure de­sire,
And sets us all on fire—
Worthy the Lamb!

Join all the hu­man race,
Our Lord and God to bless;
Praise ye His name!
In Him we will re­joice,
Making a cheer­ful noise,
And say with heart and voice,
Worthy the Lamb!

Though we must change our place,
Our souls shall ne­ver cease
Praising His name;
To Him we’ll trib­ute bring,
Laud Him, our gra­cious king,
And with­out ceas­ing sing,
Worthy the Lamb!