Lord God of Hosts, within whose hand

Representative Text

1. Lord God of Hosts, within whose hand
Dominion rests on sea and land,
Before whose word of life or death
The strength of nations is but breath:
O King, enthroned all thrones above,
Give strength unto the land we love.

2. Thou breath of life since time began,
Breathing upon the lips of man,
Hast taught each kindred race to raise
United word to sound Thy praise:
So, in this land, join, we beseech,
All hearts and lips in single speech.

3. To George our saint Thou gavest grace
Without one fear all foes to face,
And to confess by faithful death
That word of life which was his breath.
O help us, helper of Saint George,
To fear not bonds that man can forge.

4. Arm us like him, who in Thy trust
Beat down the dragon in the dust;
So that we too may tread down sin
And with Thy saints a crown may win.
Help us, O God, that we may be
A land acceptable to Thee.

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #3696

Author: Laurence Housman

Housman, Lawrence, author and artist, was born July 18, 1867, at Bromsgrove, Worcs. His devotional poetry is principally in his Spikenard, 1898, and Bethlehem, 1902. To the English Hymnal, 1906, he contributed eight translations (142, 188, 191, 228, 229, 230, 231, 234); also three original hymns, with a fourth previously published, viz.:— 1. Lord God of Hosts, within Whose hand. St. George. 2. The Maker of the sun and moon. Christmas. From Bethlehem, 1902, p. 75. 3. The Saint who first found grace to pen. St. Mark. 4. When Christ was born in Bethlehem. Holy Innocents. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Lord God of Hosts, within whose hand
Author: Laurence Housman
Language: English

Tune

FALKLAND (Lawes)


FLIGHT OF THE EARLS


MELITA (Dykes)

The original chant melody associated with this text [i.e., "Eternal Father, strong to save"] is found in most hymnals of denominations where chant has played a role, including the Lutheran tradition, which has produced much organ music on this well-known chant. The setting here is by John B. Dykes (…

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Timeline

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The Cyber Hymnal #3696
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The Cyber Hymnal #3696

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The New English Hymnal #162

Include 5 pre-1979 instances
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