The Cyber Hymnal ‎#4881

4881. O God of Earth and Altar

1. O God of earth and altar, bow down and hear our cry,
Our earthly rulers falter, our people drift and die;
The walls of gold entomb us, the swords of scorn divide;
Take not Thy thunder from us, but take away our pride.

2. From all that terror teaches, from lies of tongue and pen,
From all the easy speeches that comfort cruel men;
From sale and profanation of honor and the sword;
From sleep and from damnation, deliver us, good Lord!

3. Tie in a living tether, the prince and priest and thrall;
Bind all our lives together, smite us and save us all;
In ire and exultation aflame with faith and free,
Lift up a living nation, a single sword to Thee.

Text Information

• First Line: O God of earth and altar, bow down and hear our cry
• Title: O God of Earth and Altar
• Author: Gilbert K. Chesterton (1906)
• Meter: 76.76 D
• Language: English
• Source: Commonwealth, 1906
• Copyright: Public Domain
• Notes: Alternate tune: KING'S LYNN, traditional English melody, arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams in The English Hymnal (London: Oxford University Press, 1906)

Tune Information

• Name: LLANGLOFFAN
• Composer: Anonymous
• Meter: 76.76 D
• Incipit: 51122 32114 43325
• Key: g minor
• Source: Welsh melody from Hymnau a Thonau, by D. Evans, 1865
• Copyright: Public Domain