Psalter Hymnal (Gray) ‎#178

178. What Shall I Render to the LORD

1 What shall I render to the LORD
for all his benefits to me?
How shall my life, by grace restored,
give worthy thanks, O LORD, to thee?

2 Salvation's cup of blessing now
I take and call upon God's name.
Before his saints I pay my vow
and here my gratitude proclaim.

3 His saints the LORD delights to save;
their death is precious in his sight.
He has redeemed me from the grave,
and in his service I delight.

4 With thankful heart I offer now
my gift and call upon God's name.
Before his saints I pay my vow
and here my gratitude proclaim.

5 Within his house, the house of prayer,
I dedicate myself to God.
Let all his saints his grace declare
and join to sound his praise abroad.

Text Information

• First Line: What Shall I Render to the LORD
• Title: What Shall I Render to the LORD
• Meter: LM
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1987
• Scripture:
  Psalm 116:12-19
• Topic: Commitment & Dedication; King, God/Christ as; Lord's Supper; Offering; Opening of Worship; Thanksgiving & Gratitude
• Source: Psalter, 1912

Tune Information

• Name: ROCKINGHAM
• Adapter: Edward Miller (1790)
• Meter: LM
• Key: D Major
• Source: Second Supplement to Psalmody in Miniature, c. 1780

Text Information:

Scripture References:
st. 1 = Ps. 116:12
st. 2 = Ps. 116:13-14
st. 3 = Ps. 116:15-16
st. 4 = Ps. 116:17-18
st. 5 = Ps. 116:19

This setting of the second half of Psalm 116 is one of the most loved from the 1912 Psalter. The text focuses on the "vow of praise" section of this festive psalm of thanksgiving. See PHH 116 for textual commentary on Psalm 116.

Liturgical Use:
Particularly suitable during the Lord's Supper (eucharista means “thanksgiving,” which is the theme of this psalm) or during the bringing of offerings (esp. st. 4). See also PHH 116.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Tune Information:

Edward Miller (b. Norwich, England, 1735; d. Doncaster, Yorkshire, England, 1807) adapted ROCKINGHAM from an earlier tune, TUNEBRIDGE, which had been published in Aaron Williams's A Second Supplement to Psalmody in Miniature (c. 1780). ROCKINGHAM has long associations in Great Britain and North America with Isaac Watts' "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" (384). The tune title refers to a friend and patron of Edward Miller, the Marquis of Rockingham, who served twice as Great Britain's prime minister.

Miller's father had made his living laying brick roads, and the young Edward became an apprentice in the same trade. Unhappy with that profession, however, he ran away to the town of Lynn and studied music with Charles Burney, the most prominent music historian of his day. A competent flute and organ player, he was organist at the parish church in Doncaster from 1756 to 1807. Miller was active in the musical life of the Doncaster region and composed keyboard sonatas and church music. His most influential publications were The Psalms of David for the Use of Parish Churches (1790), in which he sought to reform metrical psalmody (and which included ROCKINGHAM), and David's Harp(1805), an important Methodist tunebook issued by Miller with his son.

ROCKINGHAM (or ROCKINGHAM OLD) is one of the finest long-meter tunes in the history of church music and is much loved by those who sing in harmony. A slight hold (stretching rather than adding a beat) is appropriate at the end of the second phrase and helps to provide a sense of two long musical lines. Stanzas 4 and 5 need the full resources of organ and other instruments. Keep the music stately and awe-inspiring with respect to the marvelous salvation of which the text sings.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook