The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord lift his countenance upon you,
and give you peace,
and give you peace.
The Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious,
and be gracious;
the Lord be gracious, gracious unto you.
Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen,
Amen, Amen, Amen.
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The Lord Bless You and Keep You
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Oct 9, 2026 updated
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Song Meaning
Acapeldridge sings “The Lord Bless You and Keep You,” the choral setting of the Priestly Blessing that Peter Lutkin wrote in 1900, and which is often used to close church services and concerts. The group sings it a cappella, so the voices carry the whole piece. The words are short: “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord lift His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”
The second line brings in two further phrases, “The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious, and be gracious, the Lord be gracious, gracious unto you.” The repetition of “give you peace” and “be gracious” lets the harmony settle on each idea. It ends in a long sevenfold “Amen,” which gives the piece its unhurried close. The text is a benediction, so it speaks to the listener and asks nothing of them, only that they receive the blessing.
The blessing is from Numbers 6:24-26, which God gave to Moses for the priests. A similar prayer for God's face to shine is Psalm 67:1, and peace as his gift to his people is Psalm 29:11.
Lyrics Verified by Editorial Team