Text:O God of Earth and Altar
Author:Gilbert K. Chesterton
Tune:LLANGLOFFAN

497. 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.

Amen.

Text Information
First Line: O God of earth and altar
Title: O God of Earth and Altar
Author: Gilbert K. Chesterton (1906)
Meter: 7.6.7.6.D.
Publication Date: 1972
Topic: Service for the Lord's Day: Conclusion of Worship; Civil Year: Memorial Day; Civil Year: Independence Day (2 more...)
Copyright: Words from The English Hymnal; used by permission of Oxford University Press.
Tune Information
Name: LLANGLOFFAN
Meter: 7.6.7.6.D.
Key: g minor
Source: Welsh Hymn Melody; Evans' Hymnau a Thonau, 1865



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