Lyrics: Robert Grant
Music: LYONS by Joseph Martin Kraus. Often attributed to Johann Haydn.

Alternate tune: HANOVER attributed to William Croft.

Theme: The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.
He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.
I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
Psalm 104:31-33

1. O worship the King, all glorious above,
And gratefully sing HIs wonderful love;
our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.

2. O tell of His might, O sing of His grace,
whose robe is the light, whose canopy space,
whose chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
and dark is HIs path on the wings of the storm.

3. The earth with its store of wonders untold,
Almighty, thy power hath founded of old;
hath stablished it fast by a changeless decree,
and round it hath cast, like a mantle, the sea.

4. Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air, it shines in the light;
it streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,
and sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.

5. Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
in Thee do we trust, nor find thee to fail;
Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end,
our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.

Mr. Grant, the lyricist for this hymn, was born in India; his father was a director in the East India Company. The family returned to England when Robert was six years old, but as an adult Robert Grant returned to India as Governor of Bombay in 1834.

I must tell you that this hymn is one of MY favorites. I find myself singing it at times without even intending to do so, whenever I am moved to “worship the King.”

Sources:
HymnTime: Robert Grant.
O Worship the King: Hymns of Praise and Assurance to Encourage Your Heart (Book w/CD) by Robert Wolgemuth, Bobbie Wolgemuth, Joni Eareckson Tada, John MacArthur, Lane T. Dennis.