Scripture Verse

We will rejoice in Thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners. Psalm 20:4–6

Introduction

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Kauko V. Tamminen
1882–1946

Words: Kau­ko V. Tam­mi­nen (1882–1946). Trans­lat­ed to Eng­lish by Her­mann H. M. Brueck­ner in the Am­er­ican Lu­ther­an Hym­nal, ed­it­ed by Em­ma­nu­el Pop­pen (Co­lum­bus, Ohio: Lu­ther­an Book Con­cern, 1930), num­ber 98.

Music: Dir, Dir, Je­ho­vah pub­lished ano­ny­mous­ly in the Mu­si­kal­isch­es Hand­buch, by Ge­org Witt­we (Ham­burg, Ger­ma­ny: 1690). Adap­ted in the Neu­es geist­reich­es Ge­sang­buch, by Jo­hann A. Frey­ling­hau­sen (Hal­le, Ger­ma­ny: 1704) (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know the orig­in­al Fin­nish ti­tle of this hymn, or where to get a bet­ter pho­to of Tam­mi­nen,

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Johann A. Freylinghausen (1670–1739)

Lyrics

Lift up the banner of sal­va­tion,
That white and blood-dyed banner of the cross.
Proclaim it wide to every nation:
There is re­demp­tion from our dreaded loss;
The Lamb of God upon the cross was slain
That man the promised crown of life might gain.

Raise high that banner for each nation,
Let every eye behold the Cru­ci­fied,
Whom God before the world’s foundation
Had as a ransom for us set aside.
Do not this truth from anyone withhold;
To all the message of the cross be told.

Lift up the banner, tell the story:
With Je­sus’ blood thou, too, wast dearly bought;
Behold, the mighty Lord of glo­ry
Complete sal­va­tion for us all hath wrought.
Poor, weeping soul, be happy and rejoice
And praise the Lamb of God with gladsome voice.

Then let no other news be spoken,
Let everyone the Mas­ter’s Word repeat.
Why should a man, with promise broken,
Proclaim the wisdom of his own conceit?
For such a one will nevermore be blest,
Since God’s displeasure must upon him rest.

Regard us from Thy habitation,
For we are erring, blind and poor, O Lord.
That wisdom which is our sal­va­tion
Remains alone with Thine unerring Word,
And even this we cannot comprehend
If Thou wilt not Thy Spi­rit’s brightness lend.