Lyrics
Verse 1
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be
Chorus
Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
Verse 2
I could not love Thee, so blind and unfeeling;
Covenant promises fell not to me.
Then without warning, desire, or deserving,
I found my Treasure, my pleasure, in Thee.
Verse 3
I have no merit to woo or delight Thee,
I have no wisdom or pow'rs to employ;
Yet in thy mercy, how pleasing thou find'st me,
This is Thy pleasure: that Thou art my joy.
Verse 4
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.
Chorus (Repeat, Shortened)
Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
"Great Is Thy Faithfulness" is a classic hymn built directly on an Old Testament description of God's mercies as renewed every morning. The opening verse states that constancy plainly, describing God as unchanging, without shadow of turning, and just as reliable in the future as in the past. The chorus repeats the hymn's title as its central conviction, tying that faithfulness to daily, ordinary provision rather than only dramatic rescue. Later verses shift from describing God's character to confessing personal unworthiness, admitting blindness, lack of merit, and no particular wisdom to offer, yet still finding pleasure and treasure in God without explanation beyond His mercy. A final verse lists specific blessings received, pardon, peace, guidance, strength, and hope, closing with the idea that these represent only a portion of a much larger, uncounted list. Structurally the hymn alternates between declaring God's unchanging nature and confessing personal need, letting the repeated chorus tie both threads back to the same daily, renewed faithfulness.
Related Scripture
- Lamentations 3:22-23 Describes God's mercies as new every morning and His faithfulness as great, the direct source of the hymn's title and refrain.
- Malachi 3:6 States that the Lord does not change, matching the hymn's description of God as unchanging.