Judge Eternal, Throned in Splendor

546 Judge Eternal, Throned in Splendor

1 Judge eternal, throned in splendour,
   Lord of lords and King of kings,
   with thy living fire of judgment
   purge this realm of bitter things:
   solace all its wide dominion
   with the healing of thy wings.

2 Crown, O Lord, thine own endeavour;
   cleave our darkness with thy sword;
   cheer the faint and feed the hungry
   with the richness of thy word;
   cleanse the body of this nation
   through the glory of the Lord.
                         Henry S. Holland
                         The Methodist Hymnal, 1964 edition

<idle musing>
Not a terribly popular hymn, occurring in a little over 100 hymnals. Seems to be an appropriate prayer for our country right now.

There is a second verse:

2 Still the weary folk are pining
   for the hour that brings release:
   and the city's crowded clangour
   cries aloud for sin to cease;
   and the homesteads and the woodlands
   plead in silence for their peace.

</idle musing>