Scripture Verse

It is good to sing praises unto our God. Psalm 147:1

Introduction

Words: George Raw­son, Hymns, Vers­es and Chants (Lon­don: Hod­der & Stough­ton, 1876).

Music: Hal­lel Myles B. Fos­ter, 1891. Ar­ranged by F. F. B. (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Raw­son or Fos­ter (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
George Rawson
1807–1889

Lyrics

With glad­ness we wor­ship, re­joice as we sing,
Free hearts and free voic­es, how bless­èd to bring!
The old thank­ful sto­ry shall seek Thine abode,
Thou King of all glo­ry, most boun­ti­ful God!

Renewed by Thy Spi­rit, re­deemed by Thy Son,
Thy child­ren would bless Thee for all Thou hast done:
O Fa­ther, re­turn­ing to love and to light,
Our spirits are yearn­ing to praise Thee aright.

Thy right would we give Thee, true hom­age Thy due,
And hon­or eter­nal, the uni­verse through:
With all Thy cre­ation, earth, hea­ven and sea,
In one ac­cla­ma­tion we glo­ri­fy Thee.

We join with the an­gels, and so there is giv’n,
From earth, Al­le­lu­ia, in an­swer to Heav’n.
Amen! Be Thou glo­ri­ous be­low and above,
Redeeming, vic­to­ri­ous, and in­fi­nite Love!