Scripture Verse

Praise awaits Thee, O God, in Zion. Psalm 65:1

Introduction

Words: Ja­cob Kim­ball, in Sac­red Po­et­ry, ed­it­ed by Je­re­my Bel­knap (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: Ap­ol­lo Press, 1795), pag­es 100–01, alt.

Music: Lou­van Vir­gil C. Tay­lor, Cho­ral An­thems (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: 1850) (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

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

Lyrics

Thy praise, O God, in Zion waits;
All flesh shall crowd Thy sacred gates,
To offer sacrifice and prayer,
And pay their willing homage there.

What tho’ iniquity prevail,
And feeble flesh be prone to fail;
Yet, Lord, Thy grace Thou wilt display,
And purge each hateful stain away.

Blest is the man approved by Thee,
And brought Thy holy courts to see!
Goodness, immense and unconfined,
Shall largely feast his longing mind.

Great God, by Thy al­migh­ty hand,
The ev­er­last­ing mountains stand:
And every storm, and every flood,
Obey Thy all commanding nod.

Thy lightnings flashing thro’ the skies,
The wide earth fill with sad surprise;
But cheered by Thy enlivening voice,
Rising and setting suns rejoice.

From Thy vast, unexhausted stores,
The earth is blest with kindly showers;
And savage wilds and deserts drear,
Confess Thee, Fa­ther of the year.

The flocks which graze the mountain’s brow,
The corn which clothes the plains below,
To every heart new transports bring,
And hills and vales rejoice and sing.