Lyrics
The Kingdom is a Mustard Seed
These words are here to be learned and sung. Play the recording above and follow the highlighted line, or simply use the lyrics as a hymn text.
Verse
Of old the psalmist raised his song:
“The Lord in heaven reigns;
His throne endures the ages long,
His sovereign rule remains.”
And Daniel spake of one small stone,
Cut out by no man’s hand,
That toppled every earthly throne
And filled the whole wide land.
Chorus
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,
On earth as heav’n above;
Not by our might, but by the Son,
The reign of sovereign love.
Verse
On mountains fair the herald sings,
“Thy God, O Zion, reigns!”
Good tidings of the King of kings
Ring out across the plains.
“The kingdom of heaven at hand!
Repent, believe, and see”:
The demons flee at His command,
The captive heart goes free.
Chorus
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,
On earth as heav’n above;
Not by our might, but by the Son,
The reign of sovereign love.
Verse
The kingdom is a mustard seed,
The least of all the grain,
Yet grows a tree where birds may feed
And lodge from sun and rain.
Like leaven in the meal concealed
It works its quiet way,
Like treasure hidden in a field
Worth all a man can pay.
Chorus
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,
On earth as heav’n above;
Not by our might, but by the Son,
The reign of sovereign love.
Verse
The unwashed hand, the cup, the meat
Can never make unclean;
But pride, and evil eye, deceit
Defile the man unseen.
“A new heart will I give,” saith He,
“My Spirit place within;
My statutes shall thy pathway be,
And I will reign therein.”
Chorus
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,
On earth as heav’n above;
Not by our might, but by the Son,
The reign of sovereign love.
Bridge
No man shall cry, “Lo here! lo there!”
It gives no outward sign;
The kingdom, secret as a prayer,
Within the heart shall shine.
The merchant found one pearl, and gave
His all that pearl to win;
So Christ, who came the world to save,
Gave all to bring thee in.
Chorus
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,
On earth as heav’n above;
Not by our might, but by the Son,
The reign of sovereign love.
Verse
A man must first be born anew
Before his eyes can see;
The gate is low, the pilgrims few
Who bend a childlike knee.
The camel through the needle’s eye
More easily has passed
Than he whose riches build him high—
Yet God can save at last.
Chorus
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,
On earth as heav’n above;
Not by our might, but by the Son,
The reign of sovereign love.
Verse
From east and west the guests shall come
And take the promised seat;
The Father calls His children home
And makes the feast complete.
The trump of God shall rend the sky,
The tares be swept away;
Then shall the righteous shine on high
In everlasting day.
Chorus
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,
On earth as heav’n above;
Not by our might, but by the Son,
The reign of sovereign love.
Music and lyrics: Public Domain / CC0 1.0 Universal · Sound recording: Public Domain / CC0 1.0 Universal.