"God, the Omnipotent!" also known as "God, the All-terrible!" is a
hymn
A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' ...
with words written in 1842 by
Henry F. Chorley (1808–1872) and 3rd and 4th
stanza
In poetry, a stanza (; from Italian language, Italian ''stanza'' , "room") is a group of lines within a poem, usually set off from others by a blank line or Indentation (typesetting), indentation. Stanzas can have regular rhyme scheme, rhyme and ...
s by
John Ellerton
The Rev. John Ellerton (16 December 1826 – 15 June 1893) was a hymnodist and hymnologist.
Life
He was born in Clerkenwell, Middlesex, England, to George Ellerton, the head of an evangelical family. He was educated at King William's College ...
(1826–1893) in 1870.
It is based on a text from , "The Lord God omnipotent reigneth"
(KJV). Set in 11.10.11.9
meter
The metre (British spelling) or meter (American spelling; see spelling differences) (from the French unit , from the Greek noun , "measure"), symbol m, is the primary unit of length in the International System of Units (SI), though its prefi ...
, the tune is from the 19th century Russian national anthem, ''
God Save The Tsar!
"God Save the Tsar!" () was the national anthem of the Russian Empire. The song was chosen from a competition held in 1833 and was first performed on 18 December 1833. It was composed by violinist Alexei Lvov, with lyrics written by the court poe ...
'', composed by
Alexei Lvov
Alexei Fyodorovich Lvov (Russian: ''Алексей Фёдорович Львов'') ( – ) was a Russian composer. He is known for his work — the composition of the Imperial Russian National Anthem ''Bozhe, tsarya khrani'' (also known as ...
(1798–1870) in 1833.
The original form appears to be the "All-terrible", but from the early 20 century the "Omnipotent" versions seems to have become more popular.
The "All-terrible" form was retained when the
ritishMethodist Hymn-Book was published in 1933.
The tune name is ''Russian Hymn'' in various modern hymnals, such as those of the
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a worldwide mainline Protestant denomination based in the United States, and a major part of Methodism. In the 19th century, its main predecessor, the Methodist Episcopal Church, was a leader in evangelical ...
and the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The Presbyterian Church (USA), abbreviated PC(USA), is a mainline Protestant denomination in the United States. It is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the US, and known for its liberal stance on doctrine and its ordaining of women and ...
, or just ''Russia'', as in ''The Hymnal 1982'' of the
Episcopal Church in the United States of America
The Episcopal Church, based in the United States with additional dioceses elsewhere, is a member church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. It is a mainline Protestant denomination and is divided into nine provinces. The presiding bishop o ...
.
Called "stirring" by one hymn editor, the hymn is described as having "a triumphant, positive quality".
The lyrics are as follows:
{,
! "Omnipotent" form
! "All-terrible" form
, - valign="top"
,
God the Omnipotent! King, who ordainest
Thunder Thy clarion, the lightning Thy sword;
Show forth Thy pity on high where Thou reignest;
Give to us peace in our time, O Lord.
God the All-merciful! earth hath forsaken
Meekness and mercy, and slighted Thy Word;
Let not Thy wrath in its terrors awaken;
Give to us peace in our time, O Lord.
God the All-righteous One! Man hath defied Thee
Yet to eternity standeth Thy word
Falsehood and wrong shall not tarry beside Thee
Give to us peace in our time, O Lord.
God the All-provident! Earth by Thy chastening
Yet shall to freedom and truth be restored
Through the thick darkness Thy Kingdom is hastening
Thou wilt give peace in Thy time, O Lord."
,
God the All-terrible! King, who ordainest
Great winds Thy clarions, the lightnings Thy sword;
Show forth Thy pity on high where Thou reignest;
Give to us peace in our time, O Lord.
God the All-merciful! Earth hath forsaken
Thy way of blessedness, slighted Thy word,
Bid not Thy wrath in its terrors awaken;
Give to us peace in our time, O Lord.
God the All-righteous One! Man hath defied Thee;
Yet to eternity standeth Thy word;
Falsehood and wrong shall not tarry beside Thee;
Give to us peace in our time, O Lord.
God the All-wise! By the fire of Thy chastening,
Earth shall to freedom and truth be restored;
Through the thick darkness Thy kingdom is hastening;
Thou wilt give peace in Thy time, O Lord.
So shall Thy children in thankful devotion
Laud Him who saved them from peril abhorred,
Singing in chorus from ocean to ocean:
Peace to the nations and praise to the Lord.
In 1982, new words to the ''Russian Hymn'' tune were composed by Carl P. Daw Jr., entitled ''Christ the Victorious'', for the U.S. Episcopal Church's ''The Hymnal 1982''.
Both versions, ''God, the Omnipotent!'' and ''Christ the Victorious'', appear in ''The Hymnal 1982''.
References
External links
Words & musicat the Cyber Hymnal
English Christian hymns
19th-century hymns