Scripture Verse

We will bless the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord. Psalm 115:18

Introduction

portrait
Thomas Kelly (1769–1855)

Words: Tho­mas Kel­ly (1769–1855). Vers­es 1, 2, 4 & 5 were in print by 1845, ap­pear­ing in Hymns for Pub­lic Wor­ship, 4th edi­tion, by John Ad­ey (Lon­don: Ed­ward F. Gooch, 1845), num­ber 354. Verse 3 is in Hymns on Va­ri­ous Pas­sag­es of Scrip­ture, 7th edi­tion, by Tho­mas Kel­ly (Dub­lin, Ire­land: Mar­cus Mos­es, 1853), num­ber 220.

Music: Apo­ca­lypse A. Mc. G., in Gos­pel Hymns No. 5, ed­it­ed by Ira D. San­key, James Mc­Gra­na­han & George C. Steb­bins (Cin­cin­na­ti, Ohio; New York; & Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois: John Church and Big­low & Main, 1887), num­ber 131 (🔊 pdf nwc). We spe­cu­late the com­pos­er might be Ad­die Vick­ery Mc­Gra­na­han, wife of James Mc­Gra­na­han.

Lyrics

Come praise the Lord, ex­alt His name,
Our Sav­ior and our king;
’Tis meet we should His love pro­claim,
And hal­le­lujah sing.

The theme is high, the work is sweet;
Your harps for con­cert string;
’Tis bless­èd thus in love to meet,
And hal­le­lu­jah sing.

How great, how pre­cious is His name!
How poor the praise we bring!
His peo­ple still should own His claim,
And hal­le­lu­jah sing.

Sustained by faith, and up­ward borne,
As if on ea­gle’s wing,
We praise our Lord, forget to mourn,
And hal­lel­ujah sing.

A day will come, its dawn we greet,
When Heav’n it­self shall ring;
When all the saints with joy shall meet,
And hal­le­lu­jah sing.