The words
Stanza 1. Now may the LORD reveal his face,And teach our stamm’ring tonguesTo make his sovereign, reigning grace,The subject of our songs:No sweeter subject can inviteA sinner’s heart to sing;Or more display the glorious rightOf our exalted King.
Stanza 2. This subject fills the starry plainsWith wonder, joy, and love;And furnishes the noblest strainsFor all the harps above:While the redeemed in praise combineTo grace upon the throne;Angels in solemn chorus join,And make the theme their own.
Stanza 3. Grace reigns, to pardon crimson sins,To melt the hardest hearts;And from the work it once begins,It never more departs.The world and Satan strive in vain,Against the chosen few;Secured by grace’s conqu’ring reign,They all shall conquer too.
Stanza 4. Grace tills the soil, and sows the seeds,Provides the sun and rain;Till from the tender blade proceedsThe ripened harvest grain.’Twas grace that called our souls at first,By grace thus far we’re come,And grace will help us through the worst,And lead us safely home.
Stanza 5. LORD, when this changing life is pastIf we may see thy face;How shall we praise, and love, at last,And sing the reign of grace!Yet let us aim while here belowThy mercy to display;And own at least the debt we owe,Although we cannot pay.
Olney Hymns (1779), Book 3, Hymn 86. John Newton. Public domain. CCEL transcription with modernized spelling. www.praylock.com/olney-hymns/3-86
