The Cyber Hymnal ‎#5046

5046. O King of Kings, O Lord of Hosts

1. O King of kings, O Lord of hosts,
whose throne is lifted high
Above the nations of the earth,
the armies of the sky,
The spirits of perfected saints
may give their nobler songs
And we, Thy children, worship Thee,
to whom all praise belongs.

2. Thy hand has hid within our fields
treasures of countless worth;
The light, the suns of other years,
shine from the depths of earth;
The very dust, inbreathed by Thee,
the clods all cold and dead,
Wake into beauty and to life,
to give Thy children bread.

3. Thou who hast sown the sky with stars,
and set Thy thoughts in gold,
Hast crowned our nation’s life,
and ours, with blessings manifold;
Thy mercies have been numberless;
Thy love, Thy grace, Thy care,
Were wider than our utmost need,
and higher than our prayer.

4. O King of kings, O Lord of hosts,
our fathers’ God and ours!
Be with us in the future years;
and if the tempest lowers,
Look through the cloud with light of love,
and smile our tears away
And lead us through the brightening years
to Heaven’s eternal day.

Text Information

• First Line: O King of kings, O Lord of hosts
• Title: O King of Kings, O Lord of Hosts
• Author: Henry Burton (1887, alt.)
• Meter: CMD
• Language: English
• Copyright: Public Domain
• Notes: Doctor Burton was one of three to be asked to write an ode for the jubilee of Queen Victoria. It was set to music by Sir John Stainer, and sung at a special festival of the National Children's Home and Orphanage, in the Royal Albert Hall, London, by a choir of a thousand voices, accompanied by an orchestra of seventy instruments, Madame Antoinette Stirling and Mr. John Pobert taking the solos. Sir John Stainer afterward wrote Doctor Burton, asking if he could not put it in another form which would be suitable for any occasion, and he would adapt the music to it. This Doctor Burton did, and the hymn was evolved which has been described as the finest national anthem of modern times. Price, p. 93

Tune Information

• Name: REX REGUM
• Composer: John Stainer, 1840-1901
• Meter: CMD
• Incipit: 32112 34551 17655
• Key: D Major
• Copyright: Public Domain