Why, impious Herod, shouldst thou fear

Why, impious Herod, shouldst thou fear

Translator: Percy Dearmer; Author: Sedulius
Tune: ST. VENANTIUS
Published in 8 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 Why, impious Herod, shouldst thou fear
Because the Christ is come so near?
He who doth heavenly kingdoms grant
Thine earthly realm can never want.

2 Lo, sages from the East are gone
To where the star hath newly shone:
Led on by light to Light they press,
And by their gifts their God confess.

3 The Lamb of God is manifest
Again in Jordan’s water blest,
And he who sin had never known
By washing hath our sins undone.

4 Yet he that ruleth everything
Can change the nature of the spring,
And gives at Cana this for sign--
The water reddens into wine.

5 Then glory, Lord, to thee we pay
For thine Epiphany to-day;
All glory through eternity
To Father, Son, and Spirit be. Amen.


Source: The New English Hymnal #46a

Translator: 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 >

Author: Sedulius

Sedulius, Coelius. The known facts concerning this poet, as contained in his two letters to Macedonius, are, that in early life, he devoted himself to heathen literature; that comparatively late in life he was converted to Christianity; and that amongst his friends were Gallieanus and Perpetua. The place of his birth is generally believed to have been Rome; and the date when he flourished 450. For this date the evidence is, that he referred to the Commentaries of Jerome, who died 420; is praised by Cassiodorus, who d. 575, and by Gelasius, who was pope from 492 to 496. His works were collected, after his death, by Asterius, who was consul in 494. They are (1) Carmen Paschale, a poem which treats of the whole Gospel story; (2) Opus Paschale,… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Why, impious Herod, shouldst thou fear
Author: Sedulius
Translator: Percy Dearmer
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #7493
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
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Instances

Instances (1 - 8 of 8)
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The Cyber Hymnal #7493

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The English Hymnal #38

Page Scan

The English Hymnal #38a

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The English Hymnal #38b

The English Hymnal #38a

The English Hymnal #38b

Text

The New English Hymnal #46a

Text

The New English Hymnal #46b

Exclude 5 pre-1979 instances
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