Who Is This, So Weak and Helpless

Representative Text

1 Who is this, so weak and helpless,
child of lowly Hebrew maid,
rudely in a stable sheltered,
coldly in a manger laid?
'Tis the Lord of all creation,
who this wondrous path has trod;
he is God from everlasting,
and to everlasting God.

2 Who is this, a Man of Sorrows,
walking sadly life's hard way,
homeless, weary, sighing, weeping
over sin and Satan's sway?
'Tis our God, our glorious Savior,
who above the starry sky
is for us a place preparing,
where no tear can dim the eye.

3 Who is this? Behold him shedding
drops of blood upon the ground!
Who is this, despised, rejected,
mocked, insulted, beaten, bound?
'Tis our God, who gifts and graces
on his church is pouring down;
who shall smite in holy vengeance
all his foes beneath his throne.

4 Who is this that hangs there dying
while the rude world scoffs and scorns,
numbered with the malefactors,
torn with nails, and crowned with thorns?
'Tis our God, who lives forever
'mid the shining ones on high,
in the glorious golden city,
reigning everlastingly.


Source: Trinity Psalter Hymnal #330

Author: William Walsham How

William W. How (b. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, 1823; d. Leenane, County Mayo, Ireland, 1897) studied at Wadham College, Oxford, and Durham University and was ordained in the Church of England in 1847. He served various congregations and became Suffragan Bishop in east London in 1879 and Bishop of Wakefield in 1888. Called both the "poor man's bishop" and "the children's bishop," How was known for his work among the destitute in the London slums and among the factory workers in west Yorkshire. He wrote a number of theological works about controversies surrounding the Oxford Movement and attempted to reconcile biblical creation with the theory of evolution. He was joint editor of Psalms and Hymns (1854) and Church Hymns (1871). While rec… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Who is this, so weak and helpless
Title: Who Is This, So Weak and Helpless
Author: William Walsham How
Meter: 8.7.8.7 D
Language: English
Notes: Spanish translation: See "Quién es este niño débil" by David Vater
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

Who is this so weak and helpless? Bishop W. W. How. [Life and Death of Jesus.] This very beautiful hymn in the form of question and answer, on the Life and Death of our Blessed Lord, was published in the 1867 Supplement to Morrell and How's Psalms & Hymns, in 4 stanzas of 8 lines. It was revised by Bishop How for the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge Church Hymns, 1871. It is found in a large number of modern hymnals.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Tune

EIFIONYDD

John Ambrose Lloyd (b. Mold, Flintshire, Wales, 1815; d. Liverpool, England, 1874) [composed] EIFIONYDD. The tune...appeared in Ieuan Gwyllt's (John Roberts's) important tune book Llyfr Tonau Cynulleidfaol (1859). Largely self-taught, Lloyd was a major presence in the Welsh music scene of his day. H…

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EXALTATION (Leslie)


EBENEZER (Williams)


Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #7424
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Instances

Instances (1 - 54 of 54)

A Church of England Hymn Book #461

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A Hymnal and Service Book for Sunday Schools, Day Schools, Guilds, Brotherhoods, etc. #420

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An Evening Service Book #103

Anglican Hymn Book #254

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Book of Worship with Hymns and Tunes #211

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Children's Hymns #4

Christian Praise #d384

Church Hymns with Tunes #555

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Church Hymns #602

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Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New #748

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Holy Voices #56

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Hymn Tunes and Carols #53

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Hymns Ancient and Modern (Standard ed.) #523

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Hymns for Elementary Schools #54

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Hymns of the Living Church #129

Hymns Old and New #556

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In Excelsis for School and Chapel #98

In Excelsis for School and Chapel. l7th ed. #d294

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Morning Stars #10

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S. Mary's hymnal #100

The Book of Common Praise #383

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The Book of Common Praise #668

The Book of Praise #260

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The Children's Hymn Book #152a

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The Children's Hymn Book #152b

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The Children's Hymnal with Tunes #195

The Children's Hymnal #97

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The Choral Hymnal #119

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The Church Hymnary #542

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The Cyber Hymnal #7424

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The English Hymnal #514

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The English Hymnal #514

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The Epworth Hymnal No. 2 #61

The Hymnal for Schools #d208

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The Hymnal for Schools #90

The Hymnary of the United Church of Canada #74

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The Institute Hymnal #82

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The New Children's Hymnal #218

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The New English Hymnal #474

The Northfield Hymnal #4 #d346

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The Packer Hymnal #90

The Plymouth Hymnal #d601

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The School Hymnal #80

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The Song Companion to the Scriptures #28

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The Standard Sunday School Hymnal #6

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The Sunday School Hymnary #217a

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The Sunday School Hymnary #217b

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The Sunday-School Hymnal and Service Book (Ed. A) #420

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The Winchester Hymn Supplement #36

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Trinity Hymnal #169

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Trinity Hymnal (Rev. ed.) #239

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Trinity Psalter Hymnal #330

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Voices of Praise #250

Exclude 48 pre-1979 instances
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