El Shaddai

This is a contemporary Christian music song about the names of God and faithfulness. 

It was written by American Baptist astrophysicist and song-writer Michael Card (b 1957) and John Thompson (details TBA).

First recorded by Michael Card on the album Legacy, which was produced by Mole End Music in 1981, it has subsequently been covered by many other artists and received a number of recording industry awards.

The song was sung in a wide variety of churches in the 1980s and 90s, and has been widely recorded by artists including Amy Grant.  It has been published in various hymnals, including the UK-based Mission Praise and the US-based United Methodist Hymnal.  These books are one source of sheet-music for it: another is the various collections which it has been released in (link below).

The song uses several Hebrew terms as part of the lyrics - rough translations of these are:

• El Shaddai - "God Almighty".
• El-Elyon na Adonai - "God Most High, please my Lord".
• Erkamka na Adonai - "I love you, my Lord." - from Psalm 18:

Downloads

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Downloadable arrangement for a small ensemble

Leadsheet (C-instrument) with guitar chords

Examples

Solo singer, self-accompanied on guitar:

Lead singer and massed choir at an outdoor event:

Professional singer with orchestra-style backing band:

Soloist with piano backing:

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website. A rough outline is:

Chorus:
El Shaddai, El Shaddai, El Elyoh na Adonai;
Age to age you're still the same by the power of the name.
El Shaddai, El Shaddai, Erkahmka na Adonai;
We will praise and lift you high, El Shaddai.

1 Through your love and through the ram, you saved the son of Abraham ...

2 Through the years You've made it clear, that the time of Christ was near ...

See more ...

• Hymns about faithfulness
• Contemporary-Christian-music style hymns

KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY
Chorus:
El shaddai, el shaddai,
El-elyon na adonia,
Age to age youre still the same,
By the power of the name.
El shaddai, el shaddai,
Erkamka na adonai,
We will praise and lift you high,
El shaddai.

1 Through your love and through the ram,
You saved the son of Abraham;
Through the power of your hand,
Turned the sea into dry land.
To the outcast on her knees,
You were the God who really sees,
And by your might,
You set your children free.

2 Through the years youve made it clear,
That the time of christ was near,
Though the people couldnt see
What messiah ought to be.
Though your word contained the plan,
They just could not understand
Your most awesome work was done
Through the frailty of your son.