1 PRAISE ye the Lord! 'tis good to raise
Your hearts and voices in his praise:
His nature and his works invite
To make this duty our delight.
2 He formed the stars, those heavenly flames,
He counts their numbers, calls their names,
His wisdom's vast, and knows no bound,
A deep where all our thoughts are drowned.
3 Sing to the Lord; exalt him high,
Who spreads his clouds along the sky,
There he prepares the fruitful rain,
Nor lets the drops descend in vain.
4 He makes the grass the hills adorn,
And clothes the smiling fields with corn;
The beasts with food his hands supply,
And the young ravens when they cry.
5 What is the creature's skill or force?
The sprightly man, or warlike horse?
The piercing wit, the active limb?
All are too mean delights for him.
6 But saints are lovely in his sight,
He views his children with delight;
He sees their hope, he knows their fear,
And looks and loves his image there.