Scripture Verse

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty. Isaiah 6:3

Introduction

illustration
The Holy Trinity
El Greco
1541–1614

Words: Reg­in­ald He­ber, 1826. Heber wrote this hymn for Tri­ni­ty Sun­day while vi­car of Hod­net, Shrop­shire, Eng­land.

Music: Ni­ca­ea John B. Dykes, in Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern, 1861 (🔊 pdf nwc). Ni­ca­ea was the place in Asia Mi­nor where the first Ecu­men­i­cal Coun­cil was held in the year 325, and it was there that the doc­trine of the Ho­ly Tri­ni­ty was pro­mul­gat­ed.

Alternate Tune:

portrait
Reginald Heber
1783–1826

Lyrics

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning
Our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns
Around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.

Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man
Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name,
In earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!