1 O God of truth, whose living word
upholds whate’er hath breath,
look down on thy creation, Lord,
enslaved by sin and death.

2 Set up thy standard, Lord, that we,
who claim a heavenly birth,
may march with thee to smite the lies
that vex thy groaning earth.

3 Ah, would we join that blest array,
and follow in the might
of him, the Faithful and the True,
in raiment clean and white?

4 We fight for truth? We fight for God?
Poor slaves of lies and sin!
He who would fight for thee on earth
must first be true within.

5 Then, God of truth, for whom we long,
thou who wilt hear our prayer,
do thine own battle in our hearts,
and slay the falsehood there.

6 Yea, come! Then, tried as in the fire,
from every lie set free,
thy perfect truth shall dwell in us,
and we shall live in thee.