Beauty for Brokenness / God of the Poor

This hymn about social justice, and God's love for people who are poor or powerless.  The words are inspired by reflection on  Psalm 113 (source).

It was written by English evangelical worship leader and songwriter Graham Kendrick (b 1950).  Originally it was commissioned by for relief and development agency Tear Fund.  Later it was included in Kendrick's album, Spark to a Flame, and has become widely used in the United Kingdom and Ireland, with some publications in Australia and Canada. 

It was first released in 1993 by Make Way Music.  Hymn-books which it has been published in include:

• Ancient and Modern, Hymns Ancient & Modern Ltd, England, 2013
• Church Hymnary, 4th edition, Canterbury Press, UK, 2005 - for the Church of Scotland
• Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New and Anglican Hymns Old and New (Rev. and Enl.)  - Kevin Mayhew Ltd, England
• Complete Mission Praise, Marshall Pickering, England, 1999
• Hymns of Glory, Songs of Praise, Canterbury Press, Norwich, UK, 2008
• Singing the Faith,  Hymns Ancient & Modern for the Methodist Church, England, 2011
• The Irish Presbyterian Hymnbook,  Canterbury Press, Norwich, 2004, for the Presbyterian Church
• Together in Song, Harper Collins Religious, Australia, 1999
• Voices Together, MennoMedia, Harrisonburg, Virginia, 2020 - for the Mennonite Church in Canada.

and one of these is the best source of sheet-music for the song.

It is set to an unnamed tune, also by Kendrick. This has a 3/4 time signature. In the key of Em, the first few notes of the melody are B, C D GA G_ B, C D E_ with accompanying chords G / Em / G7 / C.

Image adapt from Wikipedia - CC2

Downloads

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Examples

Duet with piano:

Massed choir with organ:

Official lyric video by Kendrick

Singer with piano-led band and choir:

Singer, piano-led band:

Choir (and congregation?) with organ:

Small group with guitar and piano:

Lyrics

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

Beauty for brokenness, hope for despair,
Lord, in Your suffering world this is our prayer ...

2 Shelter for fragile lives, cures for their ills, 
work for the craftsmen,trade for their skills; ...

Chorus:
God of the poor, friend of the weak,
give us compassion we pray:
melt our cold hearts, let tears fall like rain;
come, change our love from a spark to a flame.

3 Refuge from cruel wars, havens from fear ...

4 Rest for the ravaged earth, oceans and streams

5 Lighten our darkness, breathe on this flame
until Your justice burns brightly again ....

See more ...

• Hymns about Social justice
• Hymns about God's love

KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY
Beauty for brokenness,
hope for despair,
Lord, in Your suffering world
this is our prayer.
Bread for the children,
justice, joy, peace,
sunrise to sunset,
Your kingdom increase!

2 Shelter for fragile lives,
cures for their ills,
work for the craftsmen,trade for their skills;
land for the dispossessed,
rights for the weak,
voices to plead the cause
of those who can’t speak.

Chorus:
God of the poor, friend of the weak,
give us compassion we pray:
melt our cold hearts, let tears fall like rain;
come, change our love from a spark to a flame.

3 Refuge from cruel wars,
havens from fear,
cities for sanctuary,
freedoms to share.
Peace to the killing-fields,
scorched earth to green,
Christ for the bitterness,
His cross for the pain.

4 Rest for the ravaged earth,
oceans and streams
plundered and poisoned –
our future, our dreams.
Lord, end our madness,
carelessness, greed;
make us content with
the things that we need.

5 Lighten our darkness,
breathe on this flame
until Your justice
burns brightly again;
until the nations
learn of Your ways,
seek Your salvation
and bring You their praise.