PRAISE. 59 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 6, 7, 6, 7, 6, 7, 6 My soul, now bless thy Maker! Let all within me bless His name, Who maketh thee partaker Of mercies more than thou dar’st claim! Forget Him not, whose meekness Forgiveth all thy sin; Who healeth all thy weakness, Renews thy life within; Whose grace and care are endless And saved thee through the past; Who leaves no sufferer friendless, But rights the wronged at last. 2. He shows to man His treasure Of judgment, truth, and righteousness, His love beyond all measure, His yearning pity o’er distress; Nor treats us as we merit, But lays His anger by, The humble, contrite spirit Finds His compassion nigh; Far as the heavens above us, As break from close of day, So far, since He doth love us, He casts our sins away. 3. For as a tender father Hath pity on his children here, He in His arms will gather All who are His in childlike fear. He knows how frail our powers, Who but from dust are made; We flourish as the flowers, And even so we fade; The wind but o’er them passes, And all their bloom is o’er,— We wither like the grasses, Our place knows us no more. 4. His grace alone endureth, And children’s children yet shall prove How God with strength assureth The hearts of all that seek His love. In heaven is fixed His dwelling, His rule is over all; Angels in might excelling, Bright hosts, before Him fall! Praise Him who ever reigneth, All ye who hear His Word, Nor our poor hymns disdaineth;— My soul, O bless the Lord! G. Graumann, 1525; C. Winkworth, tr., a. 60 8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7 To God, the Father of all love, The God of earth and heaven, The mighty God, who reigns above, Be praise and glory given! With healing balm my soul He fills And every pain and sorrow stills,— To God all praise and glory! 2. The angel host, O King of kings, Thy praise forever telling, In earth and sky all living things Beneath Thy shadow dwelling, Adore and praise their Maker’s might, Whose wisdom orders all things right,— To God all praise and glory! 3. What God’s almighty power hath made His gracious mercy keepeth; By morning glow or evening shade His watchful eye ne’er sleepeth; Within the kingdom of His might, Lo! all is just and all is right,— To God all praise and glory! 4. I cried to God in my distress, His mercy heard me calling; My Savior saw my helplessness And kept my feet from falling. For this, Lord, praise and thanks to Thee! Praise God most high, praise God with me,— To God all praise and glory!