The Psalms of David ‎#VIII

VIII. O LORD our GOD! how great art thou!

1 O LORD, our GOD! how great art thou!
To whom all earthly Creatures bow;
To thy unbounded Sway subjected:
How great is through the World thy Fame!
Oh! may thy ever glorious Name
Be still, with Rev'rence due, respected.

2 In Heav'n thy wond'rous Acts are sung;
The Angel's Voice and Cherub' Tongue,
Are endless Songs for thee preparing:
And yet thy Wisdom doth ordain,
That Infants should in heav'nly Strain,
Be still thy Praise with Joy declaring.

3 Through thee the weak confound the strong,
And so thou quell'st the wicked Throng
Who have in evil Ways persisted:
Thy Pow'r shall crush thy haughty Foes,
Who boldly dare thy Strength oppose,
And have thy mighty Arm resisted.

4 When, in Amazement lost, I stand,
And view the Wonders of thy Hand,
The Heav'ns, thy holy Habitation;
The radiant Moon, that rules the Night,
And glitt'ring Stars of feebler Light,
With all the Works of thy Creation;

5 LORD, what is Man! surpriz'd, I cry,
That thou should'st thus his Wants supply,
And take him under thy Protection!
Or what his Offspring, prove so kind,
To keep them ever in thy Mind,
And guide them by thy sure Direction.

Part II:
6 Him cloath'd with Pow'r thou didst create,
And crown'd with Dignity and State,
In high exalted Station placed;
Ev'n next to thy caelestial Train;
Thou gav'st him o'er all thy Works to reign.

7 For him the lowing Oxen toil,
To make the Earth with Plenty smile,
And give their Labours uncomplaining:
The bleating Sheep their Fleeces yield:
He rules the Creatures of the Field,
And those in desart Wilds remaining.

8 To him thou hast in Mercy giv'n
The Birds that mount the azure Heav'n,
With out-stretch'd Wings the Air dividing:
And all the Fish that thro' the Sea,
Delight to cut their liquid Way,
With glossy Fins for ever gliding.

9 O LORD, our LORD, how great art thou!
Thou whom all earthly Creatures bow;
To thy unbounded Sway subjected:
How great is thro' the World thy Fame!
Oh may thy ever glorious Name,
Be still with Rev'rence due respected!

Text Information

• First Line: O LORD our GOD! how great art thou!
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1767
• Scripture:
  Psalm 8
• Topic: Prophecies: Of Jesus Christ, concerning his Humiliation and Exultation; Songs of Praise to God: the coming of the Savior; Songs of Praise to God: the Creation and Providence

Tune Information

• Name: [O Lord, our God! how great art thou]
• Key: g minor