Oh That I Had a Thousand Voices
Oh that I had a thousand voices
Oh That I Had a Thousand Voices is a hymn text by Johann Mentzer (1661) in 8.8.7.8.8.7 meter. Translated by Martin H. Behm. Found in CW21 503, CW93 242, elw 841, lbw 560. Sung to HERZLICH TUT MICH.
This hymn embodies Lutheran piety through its emphasis on personal devotion and the desire to glorify God with all one's faculties and abilities. It reflects the catechetical focus on loving God with heart, soul, mind, and strength while acknowledging human limitation overcome by divine grace.
History & Background
Johann Mentzer composed this German hymn in 1661 with the melody HERZLICH TUT MICH. The English translation by Martin H. Behm was created for the 1956 Lutheran Hymnal and has remained the standard version in American Lutheran hymnals.
Hymnal Appearances
- Christian Worship: Hymnal — 503
- Christian Worship — 242
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 841
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 560
- Lutheran Service Book — 811
- Lutheran Worship — 448
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 30
- Voices Together — 82
- With One Voice — 631
Translation
Bulletin Note
Composed by Johann Mentzer in 1661, this hymn embodies Lutheran catechetical piety—the call to love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength—while teaching that grace, not our effort, makes our praise acceptable.
Preaching Connection
This hymn moves from the Law's conviction of human insufficiency (we cannot adequately praise God) to the Gospel's liberation: God's grace both acknowledges our limits and transcends them through the communion of the whole Church.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- The Third Article (Concerning Sanctification) Small Catechism — The Apostles' Creed
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Law to Gospel: from the demand to love God completely (St. 1) through confession of sin and need for Christ's redemption (St. 2), to the Holy Spirit's sustaining comfort (St. 3), culminating in trinitarian confidence and eschatological hope (St. 4)
In the Church Year
Suggested in the one-year series
- Trinity 12 (1×)
Suggested in the three-year series
- Proper 15 (2×)
- Proper 25 (1×)
From LCMS Worship's published hymn suggestions, 2014–2026. The count is how many of those yearly lists suggested this hymn for that day.
Overview
A second TLH cento from Johann Mentzer's hymn of praise (compare TLH 243), this one set to Johann B. König's melody and focused on creation's praise. After the familiar wish for a thousand tongues (st. 1), it summons all the powers of body and soul (st. 2), the leaves, grasses and flowers (st. 3) and every creature on land, sea and sky (st. 4) to join in praise; vows to praise God every morning until death, and even in dying sighs (st. 5); and longs for the nobler song of heaven (st. 6).
Central theme: All creation and every human power summoned to praise God, now and in death and in heaven
Structure
Six six-line stanzas (9.8.9.8.8.8). Thousand tongues (1) — body and soul (2) — plants (3) — creatures (4) — lifelong praise (5) — heaven's song (6).
Law & Gospel Shape
Gospel/praise. Human inadequacy: 'My utmost powers can ne'er aright declare the wonders of His might' (4).
Confessional Connections
Creation as God's work praising him (SC First Article). Body and soul both called to praise (1 Cor 6:20). Praise even in death (st. 5) — the believer dies in faith and thanksgiving (Phil 1:20). The heavenly liturgy (Rev 5) completes the earthly.
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Thanksgiving; harvest; general praise; spring and summer.
Historical Notes
See TLH 243 for the same hymn in a different cento and with Dretzel's tune.
About the Tune
O DASS ICH TAUSEND ZUNGEN HÄTTE (Johann B. König, 1738).
Scripture References
Ps 126:3 Mark 5:19 Ps 103:1 1 Cor 6:20 Isa 55:12 Ps 96:11-13 Ps 148:7-13 Ps 150:6 Ps 104:33 Ps 146:2 Rev 5:11-13 Rev 19:6
Stanza by Stanza
If only I had a thousand voices to praise my God with a thousand tongues! My heart, rejoicing in the Lord, would then announce in grateful songs to everyone, wherever I was, what great things God has done for me.
Ps 126:3 (TLH's text): 'The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.' Praise as testimony (Mark 5:19). Same opening stanza as TLH 243.
- Scripture
- Ps 126:3, Mark 5:19, Ps 40:5
- Imagery & language
- Thousand tongues.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — praise and witness.
- Connection to previous
- Thousand voices.
All you powers he has planted in me, rise and be silent no more; use the strength he has given you — your noblest work is to adore. Body and soul, be ready to greet your Lord with heartfelt praise!
'Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me' (Ps 103:1). 'Glorify God in your body' (1 Cor 6:20). Worship as the highest use of human faculties.
- Scripture
- Ps 103:1, 1 Cor 6:20, Rom 12:1
- Imagery & language
- Implanted powers; soul and body.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — whole-person praise.
- Connection to previous
- Body and soul.
You forest leaves, so green and tender, dancing for joy in the summer air; you bright, slender meadow grasses; you wonderfully sweet and beautiful flowers — you live only to show his praise; make his glory known with me now.
'All the trees of the field shall clap their hands' (Isa 55:12); 'let the field exult' (Ps 96:12). Creation praises by being what God made it (Ps 19:1).
- Scripture
- Isa 55:12, Ps 96:11-13, Ps 19:1, Matt 6:28-29
- Imagery & language
- Leaves, grasses, flowers.
- Law / Gospel
- Creation praising.
- Connection to previous
- Plants.
All creatures with breath and motion that crowd the earth, sea and sky, join me now in my heart's devotion; help me lift his praises high. My utmost powers can never rightly declare the wonders of his might.
Ps 148:7-13; Ps 150:6: 'Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!' The confession of inadequacy recalls TLH 31's 'eternity's too short.'
- Scripture
- Ps 148:7-13, Ps 150:6, Ps 145:3
- Imagery & language
- Earth, sea, sky.
- Law / Gospel
- Creation praising.
- Connection to previous
- All creatures.
Lord, as long as I live I will proclaim your goodness with every breath and greet each morning with thanksgiving until my heart is still in death; yes, when my lips finally grow cold, your praise will be told in my sighs.
'I will sing to the LORD as long as I live' (Ps 104:33; 146:2). Praise even in dying 'sighs' — the Spirit's groans (Rom 8:26) become praise.
- Scripture
- Ps 104:33, Ps 146:2, Rom 8:26, Phil 1:20
- Imagery & language
- Every breath; cold lips; sighs.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — praise to the end.
- Connection to previous
- Lifelong praise.
Father, please listen to my earthly songs; a nobler song will reach you in heaven when I praise you with the angels and learn among their choirs to sing loud hallelujahs to my King.
Earthly praise is a rehearsal for heaven's (Rev 5:11-13; 19:6). 'Learn' — the new song of the redeemed (Rev 14:3).
- Scripture
- Rev 5:11-13, Rev 19:6, Rev 14:3
- Imagery & language
- Earthly lays; heavenly choirs.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — heavenly praise.
- Connection to previous
- Heaven's song.
Themes
Praise and thanksgiving Confessional witness God's majesty Devotional commitment