Gird Thy sword upon Thy thigh, O most mighty, with Thy glory and Thy majesty. And in Thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and Thy right hand shall teach Thee terrible things.
Psalm 45:3–4
Words: Philip Doddridge (1702–1751). Published posthumously in Hymns Founded on Various Texts in the Holy Scriptures, by Job Orton (Shropshire, England: Joshua Eddowes & John Cotton, 1755), number 41, alt. The triumph of Christ in the cause of truth, meekness, and righteousness.
Some hymnals omit the first stanza.
Music: Rhine, anonymous, in the Congregational Hymn and Tune Book (New Haven, Connecticut: Peck, White & Peck, 1856), page 278 (🔊 pdf nwc).
Alternate Tunes:
Loud to the Prince of Heav’n
Your cheerful voices raise!
To Him your vows be giv’n,
And fill His courts with praise.
With conscious worth, all clad in arms,
All bright in charms, He sallies forth.
Gird on Thy conqu’ring sword,
Ascend Thy shining car,
And march, almighty Lord,
To wage Thy holy war.
Before His wheels, in glad surprise,
Ye valleys, rise, and sink, ye hills.
Fair truth, and smiling love,
And injured righteousness
In Thy bright retinue move,
And seek from Thee redress:
Thou in their cause shalt prosperous ride,
And far and wide dispense Thy laws.
Before Thine awful face
Shall foes in millions fall,
The captives of Thy grace,
That grace, which conquers all.
The world shall know, great King of kings,
What wondrous things Thine arm can do.
Here to my willing soul
Bend Thy triumphant way;
Here every foe control,
And all Thy power display.
My heart, Thy throne, blest Jesus, see
Bows low to Thee, to Thee alone.