Scripture Verse

They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty. Psalm 145:5

Introduction

portrait
Samuel J. Hedborn (1783–1849)

Words: Sam­uel J. Hed­born, in Psalm­er av Hed­born, 1812, 1835 (Hö­ga Ma­jes­tät, vi alla). Trans­lat­ed from Swed­ish to Eng­lish by Au­gust W. Kjell­strand in The Hym­nal (Au­gus­ta­na Lu­ther­an Sy­nod, 1925).

Music: Wach­et auf Phi­lipp Ni­co­lai, 1599. Har­mo­ny by Jo­hann S. Bach, 1731 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Philipp Nicolai (1556–1608)

Lyrics

Glorious Majesty, before Thee
We bow to worship and adore Thee;
With grateful hearts to Thee we sing,
Earth and heaven tell the story
Of Thine eter­nal might and glo­ry,
And all Thy works their incense bring.
Lo, hosts of cherubim and countless seraphim
Sing hosanna, holy is God
Almighty God, all merciful and all wise God!

God of light, exalted, holy!
Thy tender care protects the lowly,
Nor leaves Thy children to their fate.
Gracious art Thou, God our Fa­ther,
Thy chosen people Thou dost gather,
Within Thine arms compassionate,
Thou gavest us Thy Son,
Through whom Thy grace is won,
And Thy Spir­it dwelleth within
To cleanse from sin
Whom Thine own Son hath died to win.

Bless and keep, O Lord, Thy creatures,
Reveal to us Thy gracious features,
O turn to us Thy face with peace
Here our songs we humbly tender,
Til glorified our tongues shall render
To Thee our praise without surcease,
Where hosts of cherubim
And countless seraphim
Sing holy is God, al­migh­ty God,
All merciful and all wise God!