O Weep Not Over Thy Children's Tomb

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O weep not over thy children's tomb

Author: Reginald Heber
Tune: WREXFORD
Published in 1 hymnal

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 Oh weep not o’er thy children’s tomb,
Oh Rachel, weep not so!
The bud is cropped by martyrdom,
The flower in Heav’n shall blow! *

2 Firstlings of faith! the murderer’s knife
Has missed its deadliest aim:
The God for whom they gave their life,
For them to suffer came!

3 Though feeble were their days and few,
Baptized in blood and pain,
He knows them, whom they never knew,
And they shall live again.

4 Then weep not o’er thy children’s tomb,
Oh Rachel, weep not so!
The bud is cropped by martyrdom,
The flower in Heav’n shall blow! *

* If desired, substitute
The flower in Heav’n shall grow

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #12064

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Author: Reginald Heber

Reginald Heber was born in 1783 into a wealthy, educated family. He was a bright youth, translating a Latin classic into English verse by the time he was seven, entering Oxford at 17, and winning two awards for his poetry during his time there. After his graduation he became rector of his father's church in the village of Hodnet near Shrewsbury in the west of England where he remained for 16 years. He was appointed Bishop of Calcutta in 1823 and worked tirelessly for three years until the weather and travel took its toll on his health and he died of a stroke. Most of his 57 hymns, which include "Holy, Holy, Holy," are still in use today. -- Greg Scheer, 1995… Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	O weep not over thy children's tomb
Title:	O Weep Not Over Thy Children's Tomb
Author:	Reginald Heber
Meter:	8.6.8.6
Source:	Published posthumously in Hymns Written and Adapted to the Weekly Church Service of the Year (London: J. Murray, 1827)
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain