The Cyber Hymnal ‎#16987

16987. Great King of Kings, Why Dost Thou Stay?

1. Great King of kings, why dost Thou stay,
Why tar­riest Thou up­on Thy way,
Why linge­rs the ex­pect­ed day?
Thy kingd­om come!

2. Sin has pre­vailed on earth too long
Ages of ev­il, pain, and wrong,
Have mar­red the me­di­tat­ed song—
Thy king­dom come!

3. Life in its full­ness is with Thee,
Life in its ho­ly li­ber­ty—
From death and chains this world set free;
Thy king­dom come!

4. Unloved, un­worship­ed, slight­ed now,
When shall each knee be­fore Thee bow,
Of things ab­ove and things be­low?
Thy king­dom come!

5. Earth still is wait­ing for the day
When old things shall have passed away,
And all be clad in new array—
Thy king­dom come!

6. O’er us the tem­pest rag­es still,
The light­ning rav­ag­es at will,
The war-trump ech­oes loud and shrill—
Thy king­dom come!

7. O King of glo­ry, King of peace,
Bid all these storms and tu­mults cease,
Bring in thy reign of right­eous­ness—
Thy king­dom come!

8. Peace, gen­tle peace, is on its way,
And ho­ly love this earth to sway;
Hasten, O Lord, that glor­ious day—
Thy king­dom come!

9. Oh, bid Thy bless­èd Gospel go
Forth to each child of sin and woe,
That all Thy won­drous grace may know—
Thy king­dom come!

10. Oh, bid it speed its course abroad,
Tell of the migh­ty love of God,
Tell of the wrath­ful iron rod—
Thy king­dom come!

Text Information

• First Line: Great King of kings, why dost Thou stay
• Title: Great King of Kings, Why Dost Thou Stay?
• Author: Horatius Bonar
• Meter: 88.84
• Language: English
• Source: Hymns of Faith and Hope, Third Series (London: James Nisbet, 1866), pages 18-20

Tune Information

• Name: HANFORD (SULLIVAN)
• Composer: Arthur S. Sullivan (1874)
• Meter: 88.84
• Key: E♭ Major