LSB #703 "How Can I Thank You, Lord"

Biblical citations in the hymnal:  Colossians 1:12-14, Psalm 107:20-22, Ephesians 2:8-10, Philippians 1:6

Colossians 1:12-14:  "12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.  13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Psalm 107:20-22:  "20 He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.  21 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!  22 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!"

Ephesians 2:8-10:  "8 For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

Philippians 1:6:  "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

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The text is public domain:

1 How can I thank You, Lord,

For all Your loving-kindness,

That You have patiently

Borne with me in my blindness!

When dead in many sins

And trespasses I lay,

I kindled, holy God,

Your anger ev'ry day.

2 It is Your work alone

That I am now converted;

O'er Satan's work in me

You have Your pow'r asserted.

Your mercy and Your grace

That rise afresh each morn

Have turned my stony heart

Into a heart newborn.

3 Lord, You have raised me up

To joy and exultation

And clearly shown the way

That leads me to salvation.

My sins are washed away;

For this I thank You, Lord.

Now with my heart and soul

All evil I abhor.

4 Grant that Your Spirit's help

To me be always given

Lest I should fall again

And lose the way to heaven.

Grant that He give me strength

In my infirmity;

May He renew my heart

To serve You willingly.

5 O Father, God of love,

Now hear my supplication;

O Savior, Son of God,

Accept my adoration;

O Holy Spirit, be

My ever faithful guide

That I may serve You here

And there with You abide.

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The first two cited passages (Colossians 1:12-14 and Psalm 107:20-22) both seem to appear in the first stanza, particularly the first two lines:  "How can I thank You, Lord, / For all Your loving-kindness."

Ephesians 2:8-9 appears at the beginning of the second verse ("It is Your work alone / That I am now converted").  The "good work" in Ephesians 2:10 and Philippians 1:6 seems to be referred to at the ends of the fourth and fifth verses:  "May He renew my heart / To serve You willingly... That I may serve You here / And there with You abide."

The second half of the second verse combines texts from Lamentations and Ezekiel.  The lines "Your mercy and Your grace / That rise afresh each morn" come from Lamentations 3:22-23 ("22 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."), and the lines "Have turned my stony heart / Into a heart newborn" refer to Ezekiel 36:26 ("And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.  And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.").  Ezekiel 11:19 is also similar.