1000 Songs/O for a thousand tongues (Charles Wesley)
O for a thousand tongues (Wesley)
Text[edit | edit source]
"O for a thousand tongues" was written by Charles Wesley in 1739 and is based on Revelation 5:11. The hymn poem has a total of 19 stanzas, but commonly today only four of them are used in the typical hymnal. Several commonly used verses are listed below.
O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!
My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of Thy name.
Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
’Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’Tis life, and health, and peace.
He breaks the power of canceled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood availed for me.
He speaks, and, listening to His voice,
New life the dead receive,
The mournful, broken hearts rejoice,
The humble poor believe.
Glory to God, and praise and love
Be ever, ever given,
By saints below and saints above,
The church in earth and heaven.
Music[edit | edit source]
The tune commonly sung to this poem is called "Azmon" written by Carl G. Glaser (1828) and then later arranged by Lowell Mason, in 1875.
Background[edit | edit source]
Several sources report that Wesley wrote this hymn to commemorate his anniversary of his conversion to Christ. Wesley spearheaded the Methodist movement, coming from the Church of England.