Scripture Verse

We have received an unshakeable kingdom. Hebrews 12:28

Introduction

portrait
Henry J. Van Dyke
(1852–1933)

Words: Hen­ry J. van Dyke, Thy Sea Is Great, Our Boat Is Small (New York: Flem­ing H. Re­vell, 1922), pag­es 21–22.

Music: Re­gent Square Hen­ry T. Smart, in Psalms and Hymns for Di­vine Wor­ship (Lon­don: 1867) (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Henry T. Smart (1813–1879)

Lyrics

Now again the world is shak­en,
Tempests break on sea and shore;
Earth with ru­in ov­er­tak­en,
Trembles while the storm winds roar.
He abid­eth who con­fid­eth,
God is God for­ev­er­more.

Thrones are fall­ing, hea­then rag­ing,
Peoples dream­ing as of yore
Vain im­agi­na­tions, wag­ing
Man with man, un­mean­ing war.
He abid­eth who con­fid­eth,
Christ is king for­ev­er­more.

Human wis­dom in con­fu­sion,
Casts away the forms it wore;
Ancient er­ror, new il­lu­sion,
Lose the phan­tom fruit they bore.
He abid­eth who con­fid­eth,
Truth is truth for­ev­er­more.

Right eter­nal, love im­mor­tal,
Built the house where we ad­ore;
Mercy is its gold­en por­tal,
Virtue its un­shak­en floor.
He abid­eth who con­fid­eth,
God is God for­ev­er­more.