The Steadfast Love of the Lord Never Ceases

This is a worship song about the un-ending nature of God's love. It is based on Lamentations 3:22-23.

It was originally written in 1974 as a short worship chorus by American Episcopal church member, Edith McNeill (1920-2014). It became popular in the Charismatic movement which grew out of the Church of the Redeemer, Houston, Texas, USA.

Since then, the chorus has been used in a range of contexts, and has been mixed in to several longer songs, eg Matt Redman's Mercies (New Every Morning). It has had verses added to make it a stand-alone song uses in some.

Hymn-books which it has been published in include:

Scripture in Song Two - Songs of the Kingdom, New Zealand, 1981
Renew! Songs and Hymns for Blended Worship, Hope Publishing, 1995
The Covenant Hymnal, Covenant Publications, Chicago, USA, 1996
The Celebration Hymnal, Word Music/Integrity Music, 1997

Complete Mission Praise, Marshall Pickering, London, 1999

Sing! A New Creation, CRC Publications, USA 2002
Singing the Faith, Hymns Ancient & Modern for the Methodist Church, London, 2011
Psalms for All Seasons, Calvin Institute for Christian Worship/ Faith Alive Christian Resources / Brazos Press, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA, 2012
Glory to God, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation, Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 2013
Lift Up Your Hearts: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, Faith Alive Christian Resources, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2013 - for the Christian Reformed Church in America.

The original text has meter 11.9.7.5.8.6. It was set to an unnamed tune, also by McNeil. This has a 4/4 time signature, although occasionally goes into 2/4. In the key of Bm, the first few notes of the melody are A, D E F EF G_ FE D A,_

Adapt. from a picture taken in The Burren, Doolin, Ireland in 2007 ©CC0 www.Godsongs.net

Downloads

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Downloadable guitar tab

Examples

Singer with guitar, on-screen words with purple (Lent?) background

Music video with words on-screen - same sound track as the first video:

Singer with guitar and keyboard - mixed track:

Singer with guitar:

Music group with backing - professional recording:

Instrumental - piano:

Instrumental - organ:

Lyrics

Chorus:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
God’s mercies never come to an end.
They are new every morning, new every morning;
great is your faithfulness, O Lord,
great is your faithfulness.

1. The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul that seeks Him.
It is good that we should wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord.

2. Let us test and examine all our ways,
And return unto the Lord,
Let us lift our hearts and not our hands alone
Unto the Lord who is in heaven.

3. To trample underfoot a prisoner,
To deny a human right,
To employ injustice in a court of law:
Such things the Lord does not approve.