Lyrics
I sing the mighty pow'r of God that made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at His command and all the stars obey.
I sing the goodness of the Lord that filled the earth with food;
He formed the creatures with His word and then pronounced them good.
Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed where'er I turn my eye:
If I survey the ground I tread or gaze upon the sky!
There's not a plant or flow'r below but makes Thy glories known;
And clouds arise and tempests blow by order from Thy throne;
While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care,
And ev'rywhere that man can be, Thou, God art present there.
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Observations of this hymn by hymnologist C. Michael Hawn:
"While not specifically a hymn based on the Apostles’ Creed, a child in Watts’ day who sang the hymn would likely think of this hymn as a theological amplification of the first article of the Creed: “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.” . . . The opening stanzas offer many images from Genesis 1 and 2 that would stir the visual imagination of children: “mountains,” “flowing seas,” “lofty skies,” as well as the sun, ruling by day, and the moon by night. . . . Furthermore, concepts of omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence indicate that God continues to be actively involved in creation beyond the initial creative impulse. Isaac Watts sketches a magnificent painting, perhaps a series of paintings, through which we may view somewhat objectively the grandeur of creation in all its magnificence."
Corresponding Bible Verse for Reflection and Study
Psalm 136:1-9
"Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever: To Him who alone does great wonders, For His mercy endures forever; To Him who by wisdom made the heavens, For His mercy endures forever; To Him who laid out the earth above the waters, For His mercy endures forever; To Him who made great lights, For His mercy endures forever—The sun to rule by day, For His mercy endures forever; The moon and stars to rule by night, For His mercy endures forever."