Of the Father’s love begotten, ere
the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega, He the source,
the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have
been,
And that future years shall see,
evermore and evermore!
At His Word
the worlds were framèd; He commanded;
it was done:
Heaven and earth and depths of ocean
in their threefold order one;
All that grows beneath the shining
Of the moon and burning sun, evermore
and evermore!
He is found in human fashion,
death and sorrow here to know,
That the race of Adam’s children
doomed by law to endless woe,
May not henceforth die and perish
In the dreadful gulf below, evermore
and evermore!
O that birth forever blessèd, when
the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving, bare
the Savior of our race;
And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face,
evermore and evermore!
This is He Whom seers in old time
chanted of with one accord;
Whom the voices of the prophets
promised in their faithful word;
Now He shines, the long expected,
Let creation praise its Lord,
evermore and evermore!
O ye heights of heaven adore Him;
angel hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him,
and extol our God and King!
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert sing, evermore
and evermore!
Righteous judge of souls departed,
righteous King of them that live,
On the Father’s throne exalted none
in might with Thee may strive;
Who at last in vengeance coming
Sinners from Thy face shalt drive,
evermore and evermore!
Thee let old men, thee let young
men, thee let boys in chorus sing;
Matrons, virgins, little maidens,
with glad voices answering:
Let their guileless songs re-echo,
And the heart its music bring,
evermore and evermore!
Christ, to Thee with God the
Father, and, O Holy Ghost, to Thee,
Hymn and chant with high
thanksgiving, and unwearied praises
be:
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory, evermore and
evermore!
