1 O God of truth, whose living word
upholds whate'er hath breath,
look down on thy creation, Lord,
enslaved by sin and death.

2 Set up thy standard, Lord, that we
who claim a heav'nly birth,
may march with thee to smite the lies
That vex thy groaning earth.

3 We fight for truth? we fight for God?
Poor slaves of lies and sin!
They who would fight for thee on earth
must first be pure within.

4 Then, God of truth, for whom we long,
thou who wilt hear our prayer,
do thine own battle in our hearts,
and slay the falsehood there.

5 Yea, come: then tried as in the fire,
from ev'ry lie set free,
thy perfect truth shall dwell in us,
and we shall live in thee.