Bend To Our Hymns, Redeemer

Representative Text

1 Bend to our hymns, Redeemer,
The foe’s high brow bring low;
Thou from on high beholdest
Each sin which works our woe;
Yet us, Thine own, Most Holy,
Who steadfastly believe,
Thy minstrels, truly faithful,
Thyself in love receive.

2 The band of herdsmen chosen
The strange new sight to see,
Was troubled at beholding
The wondrous mystery:
The offspring of a maiden,
Incarnate without seed,
This, this the passing marvel
No human mind can read.

3 O sight all unaccustomed,
Their monarch, Christ the Lord,
They see by tuneful cohorts
Of seraphim adored;
In tender loving-kindness
He comes, who rules the sky,
And born of maid unwedded,
Fulfills His promise high.

4 Erewhile without a body,
The Essence flesh was made;
The Word took matter to Him
From Mary, stainless maid:
That to Himself, us sinners,
The guilty sons of men,
Creation’s fallen chieftains,
He might draw back again.


Source: The Cyber Hymnal #10693

Translator: William C. Dix

Most British hymn writers in the nineteenth century were clergymen, but William C. Dix (b. Bristol, England, 1837; d. Cheddar, Somerset, England, 1898) was a notable exception. Trained in the business world, he became the manager of a marine insurance company in Glasgow, Scotland. Dix published various volumes of his hymns, such as Hymns of Love and Joy (1861) and Altar Songs: Verses on the Holy Eucharist (1867). A number of his texts were first published in Hymns Ancient and Modern (1861). Bert Polman… Go to person page >

Author: John of Damascus, 685-649

Eighth-century Greek poet John of Damascus (b. Damascus, c. 675; d. St. Sabas, near Jerusalem, c. 754) is especially known for his writing of six canons for the major festivals of the church year. John's father, a Christian, was an important official at the court of the Muslim caliph in Damascus. After his father's death, John assumed that position and lived in wealth and honor. At about the age of forty, however, he became dissatisfied with his life, gave away his possessions, freed his slaves, and entered the monastery of St. Sabas in the desert near Jerusalem. One of the last of the Greek fathers, John became a great theologian in the Eastern church. He defended the church's use of icons, codified the practices of Byzantine chant, and wr… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Bend to our hymns, Redeemer
Title: Bend To Our Hymns, Redeemer
Greek Title: Νεῦσον πρὸς ὕμνους, οἰχετῶν εὐεϱγέτα
Translator: William C. Dix
Author: John of Damascus, 685-649
Meter: 7.6.7.6 D
Source: Tr.: Lyra Messianica by Orby Shipley (London: Longman, Green, Longman, roberts & Green, 1864)
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

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The Cyber Hymnal #10693

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