Glory be to God on high
This page is about the hymn by Charles Wesley. For the Gloria in excelsis, on which it is based, see Gloria.
General information
Glory be to God on high is a hymn by Charles Wesley. It was first published on pp128-129 of John and Charles Wesley's Hymns and Sacred Poems, London: Strahan, 1739. It is a metrical paraphrase of the Gloria in excelsis, and was republished as Hymn CLXIII on pp136-137 in the Wesleys' Hymns on the Lord's Supper, Bristol: Farley, 1745.
Settings by composers (automated)
- John Foster — Glory be to God on high English SATB
Text and translations
English text
1 Glory be to God on high,
God whose glory fills the sky:
Peace on earth to man forgiv'n,
Man the well-belov'd of heav'n!
2 Sov'reign Father, heav'nly King!
Thee we now presume to sing;
Glad thine attributes confess,
Glorious all and numberless.
3 Hail! By all thy works ador'd,
Hail! The everlasting Lord!
Thee with thankful hearts we prove
Lord of pow'r, and God of love.
4 Christ our Lord and God we own,
Christ the Father's only Son!
Lamb of God for sinners slain,
Saviour of offending man!
5 Bow thine ear, in mercy bow,
Hear, the world’s atonement thou!
Jesu, in thy name we pray,
Take, O take our sins away.
6 Pow'rful advocate with God,
Justify us by thy blood!
Bow thine ear, in mercy bow,
Hear, the world’s atonement thou!
7 Hear; for thou, O Christ alone
With thy glorious Sire art one!
One the Holy Ghost with thee,
One supreme eternal Three.