Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary ‎#545

545. Lord God, We All to Thee Give Praise

1 Lord God, we all to Thee give praise,
Thank off'rings meet to Thee we raise
That Thou didst angel hosts create
Around Thy glorious throne to wait.

2 They glow with light and heav'nly grace
And constantly behold Thy face;
Obedience to Thy voice they yield,
And are with godly wisdom filled.

3 They never rest nor sleep as we;
Their whole delight is but to be
Forever near Thee, gracious Lord,
Thy little flock to watch and guard.

4 The foul old dragon and dread foe
With envy, hate, and wrath doth glow;
It always is his aim and pride
Thy Christian people to divide.

5 As he hath troubled earth of old
He keeps e'en now his deathly hold,
Chafes madly to annihilate
All virtue, honor, Church, and State.

6 Therefore, no halt nor rest he knows,
A roaring lion round he goes,
Or lies in wait with baneful snare
To drive the Christians to despair.

7 But watchful is the angel band
That follows Christ on ev'ry hand
To guard His people where they go
And break the counsel of the foe.

8 From Daniel this may well be seen
When he sat in the lion's den,
And likewise angels rescured Lot,
That the ungodly harmed him not.

9 When, too, those faithful three were cast
Into the fiery furnace blast,
No pow'r had fiercest flames to harm
Against the rescuing angel's arm.

10 And thus our God, still at this day,
From harm and many an evil way
Keeps us by His dear angel guard,
Placed over us as watch and ward.

11 They joy when but one sinner turns;
Their zeal for Jesus ever burns;
They serve His people day and night
To bring us to the realms of light.

12 The little ones, awake, asleep,
Yea, ev'ry child of His, they keep
O'er all His kingdom, far and near,
They give their kind and loving care.

13 When death approaches, then they come
To soothe mid pain and guide us home;
When from our flesh departs our soul,
They bear us to our heav'nly goal.

14 For this, now and eternally,
Our praise shall rise, O Lord, to Thee,
Whom all the angel hosts adore
With joy now and forevermore.

15 Give us, O Lord, the grace and pow'r
To serve Thee well each day and hour;
Grant us the zeal and fervent love
To serve as angels serve above.

16 We also pray Thee to defend
By them unto the latter end,
Thy fold, that little flock, O Lord,
That holds in honor Thy blest Word.

Text Information

• First Line: Lord God we all to Thee give praise
• Title: Lord God, We All to Thee Give Praise
• Latin Title: Dicimus grates tibi, summe rerum
• Author: P. Melanchthon, 1497-1560
• Translator: P. Eber, 1511-69
• Translator (sts. 1-10, 14, 16_: Emanuel Cronenwett, 1841-1931 (alt.)
• Translator (sts. 11-13, 15): J. A. Seiss, 1823-1904 (alt.)
• Meter: L M
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1996
• Topic: Michaelmas

Tune Information

• Name: OLD HUNDREDTH
• Composer: L. Bourgeois, c. 1510-c. 1561
• Meter: L M
• Key: G Major