466. How shall I sing that majesty

1 How shall I sing that majesty
which angels do admire?
Let dust in dust and silence lie;
sing, sing, ye heavenly choir.
Thousands of thousands stand around
thy throne, O God most high;
ten thousand times ten thousand sound
thy praise; but who am I?

2 Thy brightness unto them appears,
whilst I thy footsteps trace;
a sound of God comes to my ears,
but they behold thy face:
I shall, I fear, be dark and cold,
with all my fire and light;
yet when thou dost accept their gold,
Lord, treasure up my mite.

3 Enlighten with faith's light my heart,
inflame it with love's fire;
then shall I sing and bear a part
with that celestial choir.
They sing, because thou art their sun;
Lord, send a beam on me;
for where heaven is but once begun
there alleluias be.

4 How great a being, Lord, is thine,
which doth all beings keep!
Thy knowledge is the only line
to sound so vast a deep:
thou art a sea without a shore,
a sun without a sphere;
thy time is now and evermore,
thy place is everywhere.

Text Information
First Line: How shall I sing that majesty
Author: John Mason, 1646-1694 (alt.)
Meter: DCM
Language: English
Publication Date: 2000
Scripture: ; ; ; ; ; ;
Topic: St. Michael and All Angels
Tune Information
Name: COE FEN
Composer: Ken Naylor, 1931-1991
Meter: DCM
Key: E♭ Major
Copyright: © Oxford University Press



Media
More media are available on the text authority page.

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us