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.