What is man?

 

What is man when I see your power?

My God whose breath brought forth the earth?

Your hands that formed each mountain peak,

Why, oh God, did you plan my birth?

 

What is man when I see your care?

My God whose breath gave man his soul?

Your hands that shape a man from clay,

Why, oh God, did you make my mold?

 

What is man when I see your mercy?

My God whose breath should take my life?

Your hands that should destroy us all,

Why, oh God, did you withhold the knife?

 

What is man when I see your cross?

My God whose breath you gave for me?

Your hands that for my sins do bleed,

Why, oh God, did you die on that tree?

 

What is man when I see your grace?

My God whose breath calls me a son?

Your hands that clothe me with your robes,

Why, oh God, did you cry out, “‘tis done!”?

 

What is man?

 

by Clayton Campbell