The Cyber Hymnal ‎#8766

8766. O God, What Offering Shall I Give?

1 O God, what offering shall I give
To Thee, the Lord of earth and skies!
My spirit, soul, and flesh receive,
A holy, living sacrifice!
Small as it is, ’tis all my store:
More should’st Thou have, if I had more.

2 Now then, my God, Thou hast my soul:
No longer mine, but Thine I am:
Guard Thou Thine own, possess it whole!
Cheer it with hope, with love inflame!
Thou hast my spirit: there display
Thy glory to the perfect day.

3 Thou hast my flesh, Thy hallowed shrine,
Devoted solely to Thy will;
Here let Thy light forever shine:
This house still let Thy presence fill:
O Source of life, live, dwell and move,
In me, till all my life be love!

4 O never in these vales of shame,
(Sad fruits of sin) my glorying be;
Clothe with salvation, through Thy name,
My soul, and let me put on Thee!
Be living faith my costly dress,
And my best robe, Thy righteousness.

5 Send down Thy likeness from above,
And let this my adorning be;
Clothe me with wisdom, patience, love,
With lowliness and purity;
Than gold and pearls more precious far,
And brighter than the morning star.

6 Lord, arm me with Thy Spirit’s might,
Since I am called by Thy great name!
In Thee let all my Thoughts unite,
Of all my works be Thou the aim:
Thy love attend me all my days,
And my sole business be Thy praise.

Text Information

• First Line: O God, what offering shall I give
• Title: O God, What Offering Shall I Give?
• Author: Joachim Lange
• Translator: John Wesley
• Language: English
• Source: Geistreiches Gesang-Buch (Halle, Germany: 1704); Tr.: Wesleyan Hymn Book, 1780 (translation omits first stanza)
• Copyright: Public Domain
• Notes: Alternate tunes: ADMAH by Lowell Mason; ST. PETERSBURG by Dmitry S. Bortniansky

Tune Information

• Name: PATER OMNIUM
• Composer: Henry James Ernest Holmes
• Key: F Major or modal
• Copyright: Public Domain