1 Great King of nations, hear our prayer,
while at your feet we fall,
and humbly, with united cry,
to you for mercy call.
2 The guilt is ours, but grace is yours,
O turn us not away;
but hear us from your lofty throne,
and help us when we pray.
3 Our fathers' sins were manifold,
and ours no less we own,
yet wondrously from age to age
your goodness has been shown.
4 When dangers, like a stormy sea,
beset our country round,
to you we looked, to you we cried,
and help in you was found.
5 With one consent we meekly bow
beneath your chast'ning hand,
and, pouring forth confession meet,
mourn with our mourning land.
6 With pitying eye behold our need,
as thus we lift our pray'r;
correct us with your judgments, Lord,
then let your mercy spare.
Source: Trinity Psalter Hymnal #557
First Line: | Great King of nations, hear our prayer |
Title: | Great King of Nations, Hear Our Prayer |
Author: | John Hampden Gurney (1838) |
Meter: | 8.6.8.6 |
Language: | English |
Copyright: | Public Domain |
Great King of nations, hear our prayer. J. H. Gurney. [Public Fast.] First published in his Lutterworth Collection of Hymns for Published Worship, 1838, No. 76, in 3 stanzas of 4 double lines, and headed, "Fast Day; or, Time of Public Calamity." It was repeated in the Marylebone Psalms & Hymns, 1851, No. 66, and is found in numerous modern collections, including Hymns Ancient & Modern, the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge Church Hymns, the Hymnal Companion, &c. It ranks as one of the best hymns for the occasion of Public Fasting.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)