Scripture Verse

The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether…in keeping of them there is great reward. Psalm 19:9–11

Introduction

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William H. Havergal (1793–1870)

Words: Ano­ny­mous, prob­ab­ly 6th Cen­tu­ry (De­us tu­o­rum mil­i­tum). Trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by John M. Neale in The Hym­nal Not­ed, 1852–54 (orig­in­al­ly, O God, Thy Sol­diers’ Crown and Guard). Mo­di­fied in Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern.

Music: Ba­va­ria ar­ranged by Will­iam H. Ha­ver­gal (1793–1870) in Old Church Psal­mo­dy, num­ber 6. Pos­si­bly from Preis, Lob, Ehr, Ruhm, in the Geist­reich­es Ge­sang­buch (Darm­stadt, Ger­ma­ny: 1698) (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

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John M. Neale (1818–1866)

Lyrics

O God, Thy soldiers’ great reward,
Their portion, crown, and faithful Lord,
From all transgressions set us free
Who sing Thy martyr’s vic­to­ry.

By wisdom taught he learned to know
The vanity of all below,
The fleeting joys of earth disdained,
And ev­er­last­ing glo­ry gained.

Right manfully his cross he bore,
And ran his race of torments sore;
For Thee he poured his life away,
With Thee he lives in endless day.

We therefore pray Thee, Lord of love,
Regard us from Thy throne above;
On this Thy martyr’s triumph day
Wash every stain of sin away.

All praise to God the Fa­ther be,
All praise, eter­nal Son, to Thee,
Whom with the Spi­rit we adore
Forever and for­ev­er­more.