The Word of God's our heritage

Representative Text

The Word of God's our heritage;
God grant we lose it never!
May we and ours, from age to age,
Exalt and praise it ever;
It is our help alway,
In life and death our stay:
O God, while worlds endure,
Preserve Thy statutes pure
To us and to our children.

Source: Christian Hymns: for church, school and home, with music #271

Author: N. F. S. Grundtvig

Nicolai Frederik Severin Grundtvig was the son of a pastor, and was born at Udby, in Seeland, in 1783. He studied in the University of Copenhagen from 1800-1805; and, like some other eminent men, did not greatly distinguish himself; his mind was too active and his imagination too versatile to bear the restraint of the academic course. After leaving the university he took to teaching; first in Langeland, then (1808) in Copenhagen. Here he devoted his attention to poetry, literature, and Northern antiquities. In 1810 he became assistant to his father in a parish in Jutland. The sermon he preached at his ordination, on the subject "Why has the Lord's word disappeared from His house," attracted much attention, which is rarely the case with "pro… Go to person page >

Translator: Peer O. Strømme

(no biographical information available about Peer O. Strømme.) Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: The Word of God's our heritage
Author: N. F. S. Grundtvig
Translator: Peer O. Strømme
Meter: 8.7.8.7.6.6.6.6.7
Language: English
Publication Date: 1898
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

EIN FESTE BURG

The original rhythms of EIN FESTE BURG (see 469) had already reached their familiar isorhythmic (all equal rhythms) shape by the time of Johann S. Bach (PHH 7) in the eighteenth century. The harmonization is taken from his Cantata 80. Many organ and choral works are based on this chorale, including…

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Christian Hymns #271

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