Spread, oh spread, thou mighty Word

Full Text

Spread, oh spread, thou mighty Word,
Spread the kingdom of the Lord,
Wheresoe'er His breath has given
Life to beings meant for heaven.

Tell them how the Father's will
Made the world, and keeps it still,
How He sent His Son to save
All who help and comfort crave.

Tell of our Redeemer's love,
Who for ever doth remove
By His holy sacrifice,
All the guilt that on us lies.

Tell them of the Spirit given
Now, to guide us up to heaven,
Strong and holy, just and true,
Working both to will and do.

Word of Life! most pure and strong,
Lo! for Thee the nations long;
Spread, till from its dreary night
All the world awakes to light.

Up, the ripening fields ye see,
Mighty shall the harvest be,
But the reapers still are few,
Great the work they have to do.

Lord of harvest, let there be
Joy and strength to work for Thee,
Till the nations far and near
See Thy Light, and learn Thy fear.

The Chorale Book for England, 1863

Author: Catherine Winkworth

Catherine Winkworth is "the most gifted translator of any foreign sacred lyrics into our tongue, after Dr. Neale and John Wesley; and in practical services rendered, taking quality with quantity, the first of those who have laboured upon German hymns. Our knowledge of them is due to her more largely than to any or all other translators; and by her two series of Lyra Germanica, her Chorale Book, and her Christian Singers of Germany, she has laid all English-speaking Christians under lasting obligation." --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A., 1872… Go to person page >

Author: J. F. Bahnmaier

Bahnmaier, Jonathan Friedrich, son of J. G. Bahnmaier, Town Preacher at Oberstenfeld, near Bottwar, Württemberg, was born at Oberstenfeld, July 12, 1774. After completing his studies at Tübingen, his first appointment was, in 1798, as assistant to his father. He became Diaconus at Marbach on the Neckar in 1806, and at Ludwigsburg in 1810, where he was for a time the head of a young ladies' school. In 1815 he was appointed Professor of Education and Homiletics at Tübingen, but in the troublous times that followed had to resign his post. He received in 1819 the appointment of Decan and Town Preacher at Kirchheim-unter-Teck, where he continued as a faithful, unwearied, and successful worker for 21 years. He was distinguished as a preacher,… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Spread, O spread, thou mighty word
Title: Spread, oh spread, thou mighty Word
German Title: Walte, walte nah und fern
Author: J. F. Bahnmaier (1823)
Author: Catherine Winkworth
Meter: 7.7.7.7
Language: English

Timeline

Instances

Instances (5)TextImageAudioScore
Christian Worship: a Lutheran hymnal #576Text
Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary #201Text
Evangelical Lutheran Worship #663Image
Hymnal 1982: according to the use of the Episcopal Church #530TextImage
Together in Song: Australian Hymn Book II #450