Scripture Verse

I will exalt You, my God the King; I will praise Your name forever and ever. Psalm 145:1

Introduction

portrait
Francis S. Key (1779–1843)

Words: Fran­cis S. Key, 1832.

Music: Dar­wall’s 148th John Dar­wall, in The New Uni­vers­al Psal­mo­dist, by Aar­on Will­iams, 1770 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

Lyrics

Before the Lord we bow,
The God who reigns above,
And rules the world be­low,
Boundless in pow­er and love.
Our thanks we bring in joy and praise,
Our hearts we raise
To Hea­ven’s high king.

The na­tion Thou hast blest
May well Thy love de­clare,
From foes and fears at rest,
Protected by Thy care.
For this fair land, for this bright day,
Our thanks we pay,
Gifts of Thy hand.

May ev­ery mount­ain height,
Each vale and for­est green,
Shine in Thy Word’s pure light,
And its rich fruits be seen!
May ev­ery tongue be tuned
To praise, and join to raise
A grate­ful song.

Earth, hear thy mak­er’s voice,
Thy great Re­deem­er own;
Believe, ob­ey, re­joice,
And wor­ship Him alone.
Cast down thy pride,
Thy sin de­plore and bow be­fore
The Cru­ci­fied.

And when in pow­er He comes,
O may our na­tive land,
From all its rend­ing tombs,
Send forth a glo­ri­ous band.
A count­less throng, ev­er to sing
To Hea­ven’s high king
Salvation’s song.

illustration
Mount Shasta from Castle Lake
Thomas Hill (1829–1908)