Hymns · 1739

My soul extols the mighty Lord

Made popular by Charles Wesley, John Wesley

Details

Hymnal / album Hymns and Sacred Poems (1739)

Publisher William Strahan

Notes Originally titled: "The Magnificat." This is the original version of this hymn, as first published in "Hymns and Sacred Poems (1739)," published by John and Charles Wesley (London: William Strahan, 1739). Published in The Poetical Works of John and Charles Wesley, Collected and Arranged by G. Osborn, Vol. 1 (London: Wesleyan-Methodist Conference Office, 1868), page 120.

Scripture connections

Expository

This passage is the main idea of the song

Luke 1:46-55

References

Verses this song directly draws from

Genesis 12:3 Genesis 22:18 Genesis 26:4 Psalm 107:9 Psalm 111:9 Psalm 126:3 Isaiah 35:10 Isaiah 51:11 Isaiah 59:8 Matthew 5:6 Acts 3:25 Romans 3:17 Galatians 3:8 I Peter 1:20 II Peter 2:4 Jude 1:6 Revelation 3:14 Revelation 19:11

Allusions

Verses this song echoes or alludes to

Job 25:6 Job 41:34 Psalm 8:4-5 Psalm 22:6 Psalm 35:9 Psalm 103:17 Psalm 136:23 Isaiah 66:2 Isaiah 66:5 Habakkuk 3:18 Acts 13:23 I Corinthians 1:19 I Corinthians 3:19-20 Galatians 3:16 Ephesians 2:6 Ephesians 3:19 Hebrews 2:7 Hebrews 2:9

Lyrics

Verse 1
My soul extols the mighty Lord,
In God the Saviour joys my heart: (Luke 1:46-47, Ps. 35:9, Hab. 3:18)
Thou hast not my low state abhorr’d; (Luke 1:48, Ps. 136:23)
Now know I, thou my Saviour art.

Verse 2
Sorrow and sighs are fled away, (Isa. 35:10, Isa. 51:11)
Peace now I feel, and joy and rest:
Renew’d I hail the festal day,
Henceforth by endless ages blest. (Luke 1:48)

Verse 3
Great are the things which thou has done,
How holy is thy name, O Lord! (Luke 1:49, Ps. 126:3, Ps. 111:9)
How wondrous is thy mercy shewn
To all that tremble at thy word! (Luke 1:50, Ps. 103:17, Isa. 66:2, Isa. 66:5)

Verse 4
Thy conqu’ring arm with terror crown’d
Appear’d the humble to sustain: (Luke 1:51-52)
And all the sons of pride have found
Their boasted wisdom void and vain. (Job 41:34, Luke 1:51, I Cor. 1:19, I Cor. 3:19-20)

Verse 5
The mighty from their native sky,
Cast down thou hast in darkness bound: (Luke 1:52, II Pet. 2:4, Jude 1:6)
And rais’d the worms of earth on high (Eph. 2:6, Job 25:6, Ps. 22:6)
With majesty and glory crown’d. (Luke 1:52, Ps. 8:4-5, Heb. 2:7, Heb. 2:9)

Verse 6
The rich have pin’d amidst their store, (Luke 1:53)
Nor e’er the way of peace have trod; (Rom. 3:17, Isa. 59:8)
Mean while the hungry souls thy pow’r
Fill’d with the fulness of their God. (Luke 1:53, Ps. 107:9, Matt. 5:6, Eph. 3:19)

Verse 7
Come, Saviour, come, of old decreed! (I Pet. 1:20)
Faithful and true be thou confest: (Rev. 19:11, Rev. 3:14)
By all earth’s tribes in Abraham’s seed
Henceforth thro’ endless ages blest. (Luke 1:54-55, Acts 3:25, Gal. 3:16, Gen. 22:18, Gal. 3:8, Gen. 26:4, Gen. 12:3, Acts 13:23)