Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
Psalm 63:3
Words: George B. Cheever, Christian Melodies 1851.
Music: Loving-Kindness, folk hymn (🔊 pdf nwc). Published in The Christian Lyre, Volume 1, by Joshua Leavitt, 1831. Katherine Diehl attributed it to William Caldwell, before 1830. It was subsequently published in Caldwell’s Union Harmony, 1837.
If you know where to get a good picture of Caldwell (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Thy loving-kindness, Lord, I sing,
Of grace and life the sacred spring—
In blood o’erflowing, rich and free,
In loving-kindness shed for me.
Refrain
Loving-kindness, loving-kindness,
His loving-kindness, oh, how free!
I to Thy mercy seat repair,
And find Thy loving-kindness there;
And when to Thy sweet Word I go,
Thy loving-kindness there I know.
Refrain
Each evening from the world apart,
Thy loving-kindness cheers my heart;
And when the day salutes my eyes,
Thy loving-kindness doth arise.
Refrain
Lord, from the moment of my birth,
I’ve nothing known but love on earth;
By day, by night, where’er I be,
Thy loving-kindness follows me.
Refrain
From daily sin and daily woe,
Thy loving-kindness saves me now;
And I will praise, for sins forgiven,
Thy loving-kindness, all, in Heaven.
Refrain