Oh, that I had a thousand voices

if you do not hear the tune, click here.

1.
Oh, that I had a thousand voices
to praise my God with thousand tongues!
My heart, which in the Lord rejoices, 
would then proclaim in grateful songs 
to all, wherever I might be, 
what great things God has done for me! 

2.
O all you powers that God implanted, 
arise, keep silence now no more. 
Put forth the strength that God has granted! 
Your noblest work is to adore!
O soul and body, join to raise 
with heartfelt joy our maker's praise! 

3.
You forest leaves so green and tender 
that dance for joy in summer air,
you meadow grasses, bright and slender, 
you flowers so fragrant and so fair, 
you live to show God's praise alone; 
join me to make God's glory known! 

4.
All creatures that have breath and motion, 
that throng the earth, the sea, the sky, 
come, share with me my heart's devotion, 
help me to sing God's praises high! 
My utmost powers can never quite 
declare the wonders of God's might! 

5.
Creator, humbly I implore you 
to listen to my earthly song 
until that day when I adore you, 
when I have joined the angel throng, 
and learned with choirs of heaven to sing 
eternal anthems to my king!

Words:  Johann Mentzer, O dass ich tausend Zungen hätte, Gesangbuch, 1704;
                     tr. The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, alt.
                          Translation ©1941 Concordia Publishing House
   Tune:  Johann B König, Harmonischer Liederschatz, 1738

This page is for learning only (some copyrighted material is included here).
Commit the tune & words to memory, then sing from the heart.
Be thankful for the musician's gift, and bless the Lord.

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