"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." Matt. 4:4
"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." Matt. 4:4
From Darkness to Light
Manifold, O Most High, are Your awesome deeds;
Perfect, matchless, more than can be uttered.
Majestic and upright, they are beyond number.
Truly, LORD God, all knowledge, Your work far exceeds.
Wisdom is Your crown, omnipotence Your scepter.
You spoke into being all the hosts of heaven;
Life to them, O Mighty God, You have given.
The heavens, the earth, and all their denizens,
They also are the works of Your majestic fingers.
You sent forth a command and it was as spoken.
The sun, the moon, that man sees from afar;
You filled the heavens with all things that flutter;
The great deep is home to a great multitude.
All these, O LORD, are arrayed with finitude.
But infinite is the LORD, clothed with splendor!
And to You alone belong glory and honor.
You bring into existence the things that are not.
In wisdom, O God, Your plans You wondrously wrought;
And the sons of dust, in Your mercy, are taught,
That You they may seek and in Your light be brought.
For Your works bear the seal of Your glory and power;
Mighty and good, they proclaim Your praise forever,
That Your grace, by the sons of men, may be sought.
Be wise, O earth, attend to the deeds of the LORD!
All you whose frame is clay, heed His holy Word!
Flee darkness’ sway and hold fast the glorious sword.
Mighty is the LORD, and greatly to be feared.
Ascribe to Him glory; let His name be revered!
Life to our souls the LORD God has conferred;
From darkness to light, we have been transferred.
In Your sight, O Holy One, we were defiled;
Your Truth, O Father of lights, our hearts reviled.
With You, O Glorious One, we were at enmity:
We breathed hatred against You—deep hostility—
Revelling in ruin, with mind set on vanity.
All foolish from the womb and by lies beguiled,
Your good Word we scorned, resting on sinking sand.
Vile and willful, we broke Your holy command;
Blind and faithless, we despised the works of Your hand.
Slaves to sin, dull of hearing, none could understand.
Our souls did not seek You, O LORD, Most High God!
We all turned to mute idols and became worthless.
We set our hearts to do evil rather than good;
In willful disobedience, clung to falsehood.
Our portion, O God, was lies and emptiness.
Hopeless, we wandered on a road that was broad,
Where nothing prevailed but villainy, deathly fraud.
Our throat, like an open grave, exhaled rottenness—
Foul, destructive words that revealed our vileness.
Our tongues, O Holy One, uttered but deceit;
Our lips, like an adder, with slain filled the street.
Our mouths were full of curses and bitterness,
Violent and murderous the motives of our heart.
From our paths ruin and misery did not depart;
From dawn to dusk, we shot forth a flaming dart.
Never did we stand, O LORD, in awe of Your holiness.
But You, O God, have delivered us from darkness;
Our bonds, You, LORD, graciously burst them apart,
That in Your glory we might forever have a part.
You are our hope, the LORD God our Righteousness!
You broke sin’s power and clothed our nakedness.
And in Your loving-kindness gave us understanding.
It was You, Gracious One, who sought us in our lostness;
You took on flesh, left Your glorious Throne above,
Our wandering souls, Your goodness to redeem—
Before the dawn You set on us Your steadfast love.
O LORD, wondrous is Your love, holy, supreme!
You, the Glorious One, made Yourself nothing,
To turn clay pots into vessels of mercy,
Whom You, the LORD, prepared beforehand for glory!
You have caused to cease our deathly wandering,
And planted us in the land of the living.
Worthless sons of Adam now Your own possession,
A priesthood to the God whose praise angels sing.
You, O LORD God, have clothed us with salvation.
And You always lead us in triumphal procession,
And through us spread the fragrance of Your knowledge.
O Gracious One, we have become Your heritage.
Once wayward, You have equipped us for all good deeds!
You, whose ear is always attuned to all our needs.
Had not the LORD revived us, no hope would glimmer.
Our throat You have turned into a redolent censer—
One that diffuses an aroma pleasing to You.
Our tongue You have refined, that Truth we may proclaim;
With it we confess You as Lord—the Faithful and True.
And with joy spread Your Gospel, and Your goodness acclaim.
Ever do we sing of Your Word, O Ancient of Days!
For upon our lips, sin no longer holds sway.
The foul dross You, O LORD, have smelted away,
That hearty thanks be given to the Almighty,
And humble petitions raised to Your Majesty.
Our lips pour forth Your praise, for You teach us Your ways;
And by our prayers and songs we magnify Your name.
You, O LORD our God, have filled us with Your fear;
And Your holy name we now and forever revere.
By Your grace, O God, our heart is no longer askew;
For You have changed us into vessels clean and new,
Making our feet beautiful to carry the Good News—
The Light that darkness cannot stop from getting through.
Of Your divine nature You have made us to partake.
To the path of peace You have turned our souls,
Lest our portion be forever the burning coals.
With exuberant joy, O LORD, my innermost glows.
O you, whose hope is the LORD, give Him glory!
You who now dwell in the Light, praise His mercy!
For the LORD has caused to cease our misery.
He has brought light into deep darkness and set us free.
Glory and praise be to the LORD God Almighty!
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Bible References: Psalm 104:24-25; Psalm 8:3; Romans 4:17; Job 5:9; Colossians 1:13; 1 Corinthians 12:2; Romans 3:10-18; Psalm 5:9; Jeremiah 23:6; John 1:14; Philippians 2:6-8; Romans 9:23; 1 Peter 2:9; 2 Corinthians 2:14; Isaiah 52:7; Romans 10:15; Ephesians 6:17; 2 Peter 1:4.