Humble Thyself in the Sight of the Lord

This is a short worship chorus about humility. The words are based on, 1 Peter 5:6, James 4:10 and similar also to Luke 14:11. It is sometimes called Humble yourself in the Sight of the Lord.

It was (first?) published by Maranatha! Music in 1978/79, attributed to Bob Hudson. No further information has been located about Hudson. Some sources say he was born in 1966 (most likely the this worship leader) however that would have made him 12 years old when the song was published, so probably at least a year younger when it was written. Whereas the biography published by Bob Hudson (b. 1966) says he started leading worship for a youth group aged 16, so it seems unlikely he was writing worship songs when he was twelve.

It is set to a tune, also attributed to Hudson, which some people have called HUMBLE YOURSELF. This has a 3/4 time signature. In the key of Em, the first few notes of the melody are EE E E EE F D D E_ with accompanying chords Em / D / Em.

The words are very simple, essentially a direct quote from scripture. The song is usually arranged in at least two voice parts, and made interesting by the offset between them. This may be why it is usually sung by a small group or worship band, and not used with congregations.

Image adapted from HippoPx - CCO

Downloads

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Arrangement for men and women, with piano + guitar chords

Downloadable sheet music for piano, guitar and singers

Examples

Band, profesional recording

Lead singer and band, professional recording

Quintet, unaccompanied

Duet with guitar and piano, acoustic

Small group with guitar

Children's choir with band

Singer with band

Band, professional recording

Small group, words on-sceen

Instrumental - piano, words on-screen

Lyrics

Traditional language

Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord;
Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord.
And He (And He) shall lift (shall lift)
You up (higher and higher)
And He (And He) shall lift (shall lift) you up.
And He (And He) shall lift (shall lift)
You up (up into heaven)
And He (And He) shall lift (shall lift) you up.

Modern English

Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord;

Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord.

And God (And God) shall lift (shall lift)

You up (higher and higher)

And God (And God) shall lift (shall lift) you up.

And God (And God) shall lift (shall lift)

You up (up into heaven)

And God (And God) shall lift (shall lift) you up.