Lyrics Page

Garment Of Praise

By Martin Smith

943 views Oct 6, 2026 updated Garment Of Praise - Single album Verified editorial review

Song Meaning

Martin Smith quotes Nehemiah 8:10 directly as the song's whole foundation: "the joy of the Lord is the strength of my heart." The verse's original setting is a crowd weeping after hearing the law read aloud, instructed instead to celebrate — joy commanded in a moment that didn't naturally produce it.

"Take off your sackcloth, shake off the ashes, put on your garment of praise... here comes the oil, the oil of gladness" lifts Isaiah 61:3 almost word for word, the prophecy's exchange of mourning clothes for celebration clothes. "No sorrow could steal what You gave" keeps the song's claim specific rather than denying grief exists — sorrow named directly, then set against something the song insists it cannot take.

Lyrics Verified by Editorial Team

The Joy of the Lord is the strength of my heart

And I’m singing my heart out again

You make me glad in the house of the Lord

And I’ll praise You again and again


The Joy of the Lord, is life in his presence

We are a people redeemed

Children of God, come sing to the Lord

And lift up your voices with me

Lift up your voices and sing


The joy of the Lord is the strength of my heart

And I’m singing my heart out again

You make me glad in the house of the Lord

And I’ll praise You again and again


The Joy of the Lord is the sound of deliverance

We are the ones He set free

People of God, come look to the Lord

And lift up your voices with me

Lift up your voices and sing


The joy of the Lord is the strength of my heart

And I’m singing my heart out again

You make me glad in the house of the Lord

And I’ll praise You again and again


So take off your sackcloth, shake off the ashes

Put on your garment of praise

Here comes the oil, the oil of gladness

Put on your garment of praise


So take off your sackcloth, shake off the ashes

Put on your garment of praise

Here comes the oil, the oil of gladness

Put on your garment of praise

Put on your garment of praise

So put on your garment of praise


The joy of the Lord is my strength

It’s carried me all of my days

No sorrow could steal what You gave

Cos I’ve got a garment of praise


The joy of the Lord is my strength

You’ve carried me all of my days

My sorrow I leave in the grave

So I’ll put on a garment of praise 


The joy of the Lord is my strength

I’m singing my heart out again

I’m glad in the house of the Lord

So I’ll praise You again and again and again and

again

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