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Book of Books, Our People's Strength

Representative Text

1 Book of books, our people's strength,
statesman's, teacher's, hero's treasure,
bringing freedom, spreading truth,
shedding light that none can measure —
wisdom comes to those who know you,
all the best we have we owe you.

2 Thank we those who toiled in thought,
many diverse scrolls completing,
poets, prophets, scholars, saints,
each a word from God repeating,
till they came, who told the story
of His Word, and showed His glory.

3 Praise we God, who has inspired
those whose wisdom still directs us;
praise Him for the Word made flesh,
for the Sprit who protects us,
light of knowledge, ever burning,
shed on us your deathless learning.


Source: The Irish Presbyterian Hymnbook #264

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Author: Percy Dearmer

Dearmer, Percy, M.A., son of Thomas Dearmer, was born in London, Feb. 27, 1867, and educated at Westminster School and at Christ Church, Oxford (B.A. 1890, M.A. 1896). He was ordained D. 1891, P. 1892, and has been since 1901 Vicar of S. Mary the Virgin, Primrose Hill, London. He has been Secretary of the London Branch of the Christian Social Union since 1891, and is the author of The Parson's Handbook, 1st edition, 1899, and other works. He was one of the compilers of the English Hymnal, 1906, acting as Secretary and Editor, and contributed to it ten translations (38, 95, 150, 160, 165, 180, 215, 237, 352, 628) and portions of two others (242, 329), with the following originals:— 1. A brighter dawn is breaking. Easter. Suggested by… Go to person page >

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Text Information

First Line: Book of books, our people's strength
Title: Book of Books, Our People's Strength
Author: Percy Dearmer (1925)
Meter: 7.8.7.8.8.8
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain
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Notes

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Timeline

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Media

The Cyber Hymnal #603
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)
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Instances

Instances (1 - 4 of 4)

Magnify the Lord #490

Magnify the Lord #490
TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #603

The Cyber Hymnal #603
TextPage Scan

The Hymnal 1982 #631

The Hymnal 1982 #631
Text

The Irish Presbyterian Hymnbook #264

The Irish Presbyterian Hymnbook #264
Include 26 pre-1979 instances
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