Unless stated otherwise, my source for hymn texts and tunes is The Lutheran Service Book.

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

LSB #823, 824 "May God Bestow on Us His Grace"

Biblical citations in the hymnal:  Psalm 67:1-2; 96:10-13; Isaiah 55:10-11; 62:1-2

Psalm 67:1-2:  "1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, 2 that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations."

Psalm 96:10-13:  "10 Say among the nations, 'The LORD reigns!  Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.'

"11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 12 let the field exult, and everything in it!  Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy 13 before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth.  He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness."

Isaiah 55:10-11:  "10 'For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.'"

Isaiah 62:1-2:  "1 For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch.  2 The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give."

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The text is public domain:
1 May God bestow on us His grace,
With blessings rich provide us;
And may the brightness of His face
To life eternal guide us,
That we His saving health may know,
His gracious will and pleasure,
And also to the nations show
Christ's riches without measure
And unto God convert them.

2 Thine over all shall be the praise
And thanks of ev'ry nation;
And all the world with joy shall raise
The voice of exultation.
For Thou shalt judge the earth, O Lord,
Nor suffer sin to flourish;
Thy people's pasture is Thy Word
Their souls to feed and nourish,
In righteous paths to keep them.

3 O let the people praise Thy worth,
In all good works increasing;
The land shall plenteous fruit bring forth,
Thy Word is rich in blessing.
May God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit bless us!
Let all the world praise Him alone,
Let solemn awe possess us.
Now let our hearts say, "Amen!"
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Psalm 67:1-2 is paraphrased in the first verse, and the passage from Isaiah 62 is also incorporated near the end ("And also to the nations show / Christ's riches without measure").

The passage from Psalm 96 is paraphrased in the second verse, and Isaiah 55:10-11 appears near the beginning of the third verse, particularly in the lines "The land shall plenteous fruit bring forth, / Thy Word is rich in blessing."

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The end of the second verse ("Thy people's pasture is Thy Word / Their souls to feed and nourish, / In righteous paths to keep them") alludes to Psalm 23:2-3:  "2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside still waters.  3 He restores my soul.  He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."