How Excellent Is Thy Name

©1996 Susan Noyes Anderson

We gather now before thee, Lord, united by our humble hearts
and bow our heads in gratitude for every gift that thou imparts
How excellent is thy name in all the earth

For life and breath, for water clear, for fruit and grain in rich supply
For light of day and dark of night, for sun and moon and stars on high
How excellent is thy name in all the earth

For splendor in the seasons, for the majesty of nature’s power
For beauty and serenity surrounding us in every hour
How excellent is thy name in all the earth

For health and strength and work to do; for home and family, friends and love
For this great nation and her freedoms, sacred blessings from above
How excellent is thy name in all the earth

For eyes to see and ears to hear, for hearts to feel and minds to learn
For all the gifts of joy and sorrow and the wisdom that they earn
How excellent is thy name in all the earth

For challenges and obstacles, for rugged mountains to ascend
For courage in the face of strife, for truth and honor to defend
How excellent is thy name in all the earth

For hope in times of weakness and abiding faith to make us strong
For goodness and its heritage: upholding right, forsaking wrong
How excellent is thy name in all the earth

For knowledge of thy presence, Lord; for things to come and things before
We thank thee, God, for lovingkindness, and we praise thee evermore
How excellent is thy name in all the earth

“O Lord, our Lord–How excellent is thy name in all the earth: Who has set thy glory above the heavens…When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visiteth him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet…”(Psalms 8:1-9).

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