Beauty for Ashes (Manzano)

This is a short worship chorus about Jesus' sacrifice, and the contrast of suffering and beauty. The words are based on Isaiah 61:1-3.

The song was written by Robert (Bob) Manzano (*), and first published by Maranatha Music in 1976. It was included in Songs of Praise volume 1, published in 1979 by Scripture in Song, New Zealand.

It is set to an unnamed tune, also by Manzano. This has a 4/4 time signature. In the key of F, the first few notes of the melody are C F G A A_ G FC / C B BB A_ with accompanying chords F / Gm7.

(*) If you have any information about Bob Manzano, please leave a message in the Comments box near the bottom of the page.

Image © www.Godsongs.net - may be freely used for church purposes

Downloads

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Downloadable piano arrangement with words and guitar chords

Examples

Singer with band, professional recording

Folk group - guitar and mandolin, professional recording

Instrumental - piano, with words on-screen

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website (page 24). A rough outline is:

He gave me beauty for ashes
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise
For the spirit of heaviness;
That we might be
Trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord,
That he might be glorified.