Service Book and Hymnal of the Lutheran Church in America ‎#347

347. God of our fathers, known of old

1 God of our fathers, known of old,
Lord of our far-flung battle-line,
Beneath whose awful hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine;
Lord God of hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget--lest we forget!

2 The tumult and the shouting dies;
The captains and the kings depart;
Still stands thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget--lest we forget! A-men.

3 Far called, our navies melt away;
On dune and headland sinks the fire:
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget--lest we forget!

4 If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not thee in awe,
Such boastings as the Gentiles use,
Or lesser breeds without the law--
Lord God of hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget--lest we forget!

5 For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard,
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And, guarding, calls not thee to guard,
For frantic boast and foolish word--
Thy mercy on thy people, Lord!

Amen.

Text Information

• First Line: God of our fathers, known of old
• Author: Rudyard Kipling, 1865 - 1936
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1958
• Topic: Church Life and Work: City, Nation, World
• Copyright: By permission of Mrs. George Bainbridge, Doubleday and Company, and the Macmillan Company of Canada
• Notes: Now Public Domain; This hymn may also be sung to VATER UNSER (No. 359)

Tune Information

• Name: ST. MATTHIAS
• Composer: William Henry Monk, 1823 - 89
• Meter: 8 8, 8 8, 8 8.
• Key: F Major