Hymn for Peace [song by L. E. Homfray]

[Editor: This song by L. E. Homfray was published in Australians, Awake! And Other Poems (1915).]

Hymn for Peace.

Tune 225, A. & M. Hymns.

Oh! God of every nation
Our cry goes up to Thee,
And at Thy throne of glory
We fall on bended knee.

Remember not our errors
Our evil deeds forget
On all our pride and hardness,
Good Lord, have mercy yet.

Oh! keep our hearts from hatred,
Our tongues from words of strife,
While fierce the battle rages
Around the nation’s life.

Oh! save us from vain glory,
From thoughts of boastful pride,
For only shall we conquer
If Thou art on our side.

Thy goodness stands for ever,
Thy mercy cannot fail,
If Thou wilt be our Leader
Our foes shall not prevail.

And Thine be all the glory
Through all the length of days,
With humble hearts we offer
To Thee our prayers and praise.
Amen.

Source:
L. E. Homfray, Australians, Awake! And Other Poems, Sydney: D. S. Ford, [1915?], page 8

Editor’s notes:
A. & M. Hymns = Hymns Ancient and Modern, a collection of hymns in common use within the Church of England (the first full edition of which was published in 1861, following the production of a specimen edition in 1859 and a trial edition in 1860)

Lord = in a religious context, and capitalized, a reference to God or Jesus

Old spelling in the original text:
art (are)
thee (you)
thine (yours)
thou (you)
thy (your)
wilt (will)

[Editor: Changed “conquor” to “conquer”.]