They shall hear of Thy great Name, and of Thy strong hand, and of Thy stretched out arm.
1 Kings 8:42
Words: Zacharias Topelius (1818–1898). Translated from Swedish to Norwegian by Nordahl Rolfsen (1848–1928). Translated from Norwegian to English by an unknown author.
Music: Grieg Edvard H. Grieg (1843–1907) (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know when the words or music were written, the English translator, or where to get a good picture of him (head-and-shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels), or a better one of Topelius, would you ?
O God of Hosts, with Thy strong hand,
Protect the sons of our fair land;
Be Thou our Shield in war or peace,
And guide our steps till life shall cease.
Thou Lord, defend this land of ours,
Its smiling shores, its mountain towers;
Thy blessing on its future shed
Like morning dew when night is fled.
In truth and light we fain would grow,
Thy laws would love, Thy Word would know;
In Thee we will for aye abide;
O Lord of all, be Thou our guide!