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5083. O Lord of Hosts, Almighty King

1. O Lord of hosts, almighty king,
Behold the sacrifice we bring:
To every arm Thy strength impart;
Thy Spirit shed through every heart.

2. Wake in our breasts the living fires,
The holy faith that warmed our sires;
Thy hand hath made our nation free;
To die for her is serving Thee.

3. Be Thou a pillared flame to show
The midnight snare, the silent foe;
And when the battle thunders loud,
Still guide us in its moving cloud.

4. God of all nations, sovereign Lord,
In Thy dread name we draw the sword,
We lift the starry flag on high
That fills with light our stormy sky.

5. From treason’s rent, from murder’s stain,
Guard Thou its folds till peace shall reign,
Till fort and field, till shore and sea,
Join our loud anthem, praise to Thee.

Text Information
First Line: O Lord of hosts, almighty king
Title: O Lord of Hosts, Almighty King
Author: Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1861)
Meter: LM
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain
Notes: It was during the American civil war that Holmes wrote these words, which echo a patriotic theme. Al­ter­nate tune: NEW YORK, Thom­as T. N­oble, 1917
Tune Information
Name: HESPERUS
Composer: Henry Baker (1854)
Meter: LM
Incipit: 33351 22355 54234
Key: F Major
Source: First published in A Hymnal for Use in the English Church, by J. Grey, 1866
Copyright: Public Domain



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