2. Hymns and Psalms of Praise

World Scripture

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the lands! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord is God! It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him, bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100

Sing you all, and sing aloud! Devotees, sing your songs. Let children, too, sing. Sing to Him who is like a mighty fortress. Let the viol send down its strains, the lute raise its voice around, the bow string strike its echoing sound: to Indra is our hymn upraised.
Rig Veda 8.69.8-9 (Hinduism)

I will extol thee, my God and my King, and bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day I will bless thee, and praise thy name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall laud thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of thy majesty, and on thy wondrous works, I will meditate. Men shall proclaim the might of thy terrible acts, and I will declare thy greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of thy abundant goodness, and shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
Psalm 145.1-7

He is God, there is no god but He. He is the knower of the Unseen and the Visible; He is the All-merciful, the All-compassionate. He is God, there is no God but He. He is the King, the All-holy, the All-peaceable, The All-faithful, the All-preserver, The All-mighty, the All-compeller, the All-sublime. Glory be to God, above that they associate! He is God, the Creator, the Maker, the Shaper. To Him belong the Names Most Beautiful. All that is in the heavens and the earth magnifies Him; He is the All-mighty, the All-wise.²⁴
Qur’an 59.22-24

Come together, you all, with the power of spirit, to the Lord of heaven, who is One, the Guest of the people. He, the ancient, desires to come to the new. To Him all pathways turn; verily He is One. We all here are Thine, O Indra, praised by many, We who go about, attached to Thee, Lord of wealth! O Lover of song, none but Thee receives our songs. Love these our words as the earth loves her creatures. Loud songs have sounded to the bounteous Indra, One worthy of praise, the Supporter of mankind, to the much invoked, waxing strong with lovely hymns, and the immortal One who is sung day by day. Towards Indra have all our loving songs, joined to the heavenly light, proceeded in unison; as a wife embraces her husband, comely bridegroom, so they encompass the bounteous One for His grace.
Sama Veda 372-375 (Hinduism)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon

Grace filling me with golden light, measureless blessing divine;
God gives eternal life to me, perfect rejoicing is mine.
Glorious the song ringing in my heart for my Father above;
Gratefully I give offering to Him, triumph and glorious love.
Joy surging like an ocean wave, flowing so deep in my soul;
Hope rises as I go in praise, knowing that man will be whole.
Glorious the song ringing in my heart for my Father above;
Gratefully I give offering to Him, triumph and glorious love.
High, limitless eternal life, touching the top of the sky;
Praise filling every part of me, blessing that never will die.
Glorious the song ringing in my heart for my Father above; Gratefully I give offering to Him, triumph and glorious love.
You’ve chosen me to do Your will, thankful, I vow to be true;
I’m pledging in my heart of hearts, “Father, my life is for You.”
Glorious the song ringing in my heart for my Father above;
Gratefully I give offering to Him, triumph and glorious love.
(Grace of the Holy Garden)²⁵

Now the light of glory arises like the sun that shines on high;
Now awaken into freedom, O revive, you spirits, O revive!
Wake the mountains and the valleys; bring alive the springs of the earth.
Light the world forever with the Light of your rebirth.
Light the world forever with the Light of your rebirth.
We are called to bring back the glory to the life of God above;
Now the Lord in His greatness fills the universe with tender love,
Ever seeking souls awakened, ever calling them to be free.
How shall I attend Him who is calling to me?
How shall I attend Him who is calling to me?
From the dark of death I awaken and rejoice to live in grace;
When the One who came to save me holds me tenderly in His embrace; How can I return the blessing? Though in all my life I will try.
I can never stop feeling how unworthy am I.
I can never stop feeling how unworthy am I!
(Blessing of Glory)