[Verse] On Sinai's mount the thunder rolled; the finger wrote what stone would hold. The trembling people stood and sighed, "Let not God speak with us," they cried. [Verse] The law was holy, just, and good; it named our sin; no sinner stood. The tables shone, the tables broke; three thousand fell beneath the stroke. [Chorus] The letter kills, the Spirit gives; one glory fades, one glory lives. O take the vail from off my heart and shine and never more depart. [Verse] When Moses left the burning hill, his shining face made all stand still. He drew a vail across the light that they might miss its fading flight. [Verse] The vail has left the prophet's brow; it lies upon the hearer now. Not on the parchment page we read, but on the heart refusing heed. [Chorus] The letter kills, the Spirit gives; one glory fades, one glory lives. O take the vail from off my heart and shine and never more depart. [Verse] Uzzah put forth his hand to save; the ark he steadied dug his grave. No hand might touch the burning stone; the mountain threatened flesh and bone. [Verse] But Christ put forth his hand and said, "Be clean"—and life outran the dead. The woman touched him in the press, and virtue answered her distress. [Chorus] The letter kills, the Spirit gives; one glory fades, one glory lives. O take the vail from off my heart and shine and never more depart. [Verse] They dragged her out at break of day, with Moses' sentence set to slay. The stones lay heavy in each hand; the letter's word was clear command. [Verse] He stooped, and with his finger wrote in dust that keeps no lasting note. And one by one her judges fled; "Neither do I condemn," he said. [Chorus] The letter kills, the Spirit gives; one glory fades, one glory lives. O take the vail from off my heart and shine and never more depart. [Bridge] The bill of ordinances came and perished in the Saviour's name. The temple veil was rent that day, and riven stone unbarred the way. [Bridge] One blood cried out from Abel's ground; a better speaking blood is found. A testament requires a death: he paid the letter's debt with breath. [Verse] The fire that fell on Sinai slew; this fire came down and rested too. It sat on every head like flame and loosened tongues instead of blame. [Verse] Three thousand perished by the sword; three thousand rose to bless the Lord. The blade went inward, not to slay, but cut the stony heart away. [Chorus] The letter kills, the Spirit gives; one glory fades, one glory lives. O take the vail from off my heart and shine and never more depart. [Verse] The dust was formed but did not live until the breath that God would give. The dry bones stood, an army vast; he breathed, and death itself was past. [Verse] No stone can hold what he will write; he writes on hearts and kindles light. His living letters, known and read, alive where once the law struck dead. [Chorus] The letter kills, the Spirit gives; one glory fades, one glory lives. O take the vail from off my heart and shine and never more depart.