With Songs and Honors

With Songs and Honors

Text written in 1719 by Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

Sung to BEDFORD, composed c. 1723 by William Wheale (? -1727)

With Songs and Honors

Psalm 147:1, 8 How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!...He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.

V. 1 With songs and honors sounding loud, 

Address the Lord on high;

Over the heavens He spreads His cloud,

And waters veil the sky.

V. 2 He sends His showers of blessing down

To cheer the plains below;

He makes the grass the mountains crown,

And corn in valleys grow.

Psalm 147:15, 16 He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.

He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes.

V. 3 His steady counsels change the face

Of the declining year;

He bids the sun cut short his race,

And wintry days appear.

Psalm 147:18 He sends his word and melts them;

he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.

V. 4  He sends His word, and melts the snow;

The fields no longer mourn;

He calls the warmer gales to blow,

And bids the spring return.

Psalm 147:20 He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the Lord.

V. 5 The changing wind, the flying cloud,

Obey His mighty word:

With songs and honors sounding loud

Praise ye the sovereign Lord!