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Words: Jonathan Friedrich Bahnmaier, 1827 (Walte, fnrder, nah und fern); translated from German to English by Catherine Winkworth in Lyra Germanica, second series, 1858.
Music: "Gott Sei Dank," Neues geistreiches Gesangbuch, by Johann Anastasius Freylinghausen (Halle, Germany: 1704)
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Spread, O spread, thou mighty Word,
Spread the kingdom of the Lord,
Whersoe'er His breath has given,
Life to beings meant for heaven.
Tell them how the Father's will
Made the world, and keeps it still,
How He sent His Son to save
All who help and comfort crave.
Tell of our Redeemer's love,
Who forever doth remove
By His holy sacrifice
All the guilt that on us lies.
Tell them of the Spirit given
Now to guide us up to heaven,
Strong and holy, just and true,
Working both to will and do.
Word of life, most pure and strong,
Lo! for Thee the nations long,
Spread, till from its dreary night
All the world awakes to light.
Up! the ripening fields ye see,
Mighty shall the harvest be;
But the reapers still are few,
Great the work they have to do.
Lord of harvest, let there be
Joy and strength to work for Thee,
Till the nations, far and near,
See Thy light, and learn Thy fear.
Hymns supplied through the gracious generosity of the Cyber Hymnal Website