Evangelical Lutheran hymnal ‎#185

185. Thy Word, O Lord, is gentle dew

1 Thy Word, O Lord, is gentle dew
To suff'ring hearts that want it;
O shed Thy heav'nly balm anew,
To all Thy garden grant it.
Refreshed by Thee,
May ev'ry tree
Bud forth and blossom to Thy praise,
And bear much fruit in after days.

2 Thy Word is like a flaming sword,
A sharp and mighty arrow,
A wedge that cleaves the rock; that Word
Can pierce through heart and marrow;
O send it forth
O'er all the earth,
The darkened heart to cleanse and win,
And shatter all the might of sin.

3 Thy Word, a wondrous star, supplies
True guidance when we need it;
It points to Christ, it maketh wise
All simple hearts that heed it;
Let not its light
E'er sink in night,
But still in every spirit shine,
That none may miss that light divine.

Text Information

• First Line: Thy Word, O Lord, is gentle dew
• Author: Carl Bernard Garve (1525)
• Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1855)
• Meter: No. 75
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1908
• Topic: The Catechism: The Word
• Notes: From the German text: Dein Wort, o Herr, ist milder Tau

Tune Information

• Name: HOPE (Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan)
• Key: G Major
• Source: Nürnberg G. B., 1690, probably of earlier origin