Bless, O my soul, the Lord

Representative Text

1 Oh, bless the Lord, my soul!
Let all within me join
And aid my tongue to bless his name
Whose favors are divine.

2 Oh, bless the Lord, my soul,
Nor let his mercies lie
Forgotten in unthankfulness
And without praises die.

3 'Tis he forgives my sins;
'Tis he relieves my pain;
'Tis he that heals my sicknesses
And makes me young again.

4 He fills the poor with good;
He gives the suff'rers rest;
The Lord has judgments for the proud
And justice for th' oppressed.

5 His wondrous works and ways
He made by Moses known,
But sent the world his truth and grace
By his beloved Son.

Source: Christian Worship (1993): a Lutheran hymnal #238

Author: Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts was the son of a schoolmaster, and was born in Southampton, July 17, 1674. He is said to have shown remarkable precocity in childhood, beginning the study of Latin, in his fourth year, and writing respectable verses at the age of seven. At the age of sixteen, he went to London to study in the Academy of the Rev. Thomas Rowe, an Independent minister. In 1698, he became assistant minister of the Independent Church, Berry St., London. In 1702, he became pastor. In 1712, he accepted an invitation to visit Sir Thomas Abney, at his residence of Abney Park, and at Sir Thomas' pressing request, made it his home for the remainder of his life. It was a residence most favourable for his health, and for the prosecution of his literary… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Bless, O my soul, the Lord
Author: Isaac Watts
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

ST. THOMAS (Williams)

ST. THOMAS is actually lines 5 through 8 of the sixteen-line tune HOLBORN, composed by Aaron Williams (b. London, England, 1731; d. London, 1776) and published in his Collection (1763, 1765) as a setting for Charles Wesley's text "Soldiers of Christ, Arise" (570). The harmonization is by Lowell Maso…

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Timeline

Instances

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Text

Christian Worship (1993) #238

Include 1 pre-1979 instance
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