Father Eternal, Ruler of Creation

Full Text

1 Father eternal, Ruler of creation,
Spirit of life, by whom all things are made,
through the thick darkness covering every nation,
light to our blindness, come now to our aid!
[Refrain:]
Your kingdom come, O Lord, your will be done.

2 Races and peoples, still we stand divided,
and, sharing not our griefs, no joy can share;
by wars and tumults love is mocked, derided,
his conquering cross no kingdom wills to bear; [Refrain]

3 Envious of heart, blind-eyed, with tongues confounded,
nation by nation still goes unforgiven;
in wrath and fear, by jealousies surrounded,
building proud towers which shall not reach to heaven. [Refrain]

4 Lust of possession causes desolations;
meekness is honoured nowhere on the earth.
Led by no star, the rulers of the nations
still fail to bring us to the blissful birth. [Refrain]

5 How shall we love you, holy hidden Being,
if we love not the world which you have made?
Oh, give us purer love, for better seeing
your Word made flesh and in a manger laid. [Refrain]

Source: Church Hymnary, Fourth Edition #261

Author: Laurence Housman

(no biographical information available about Laurence Housman.) Go to person page >

Tune

LANGHAM


OLD 124TH

GENEVAN 124 (also known as OLD 124TH) was first published in the 1551 edition of the Genevan Psalter. Dale Grotenhuis (PHH 4) harmonized the tune in 1985. One of the best known from the Genevan Psalter, the tune is published in most North American hymnals. By 1564 it was adopted in English and Scott…

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Timeline

Instances

Instances (4)TextImageAudioScore
Church Hymnary, Fourth Edition #261Text
Common Praise #574
Hymnal 1982: according to the use of the Episcopal Church #573TextImage
Rejoice in the Lord #489Text