This edition was prepared by Andrew Sims — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Eternal Father, Strong to Save
Staff Notation • Sacred, Hymns
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3 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
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Eternal Father, Strong to Save by John Bacchus Dykes — Lyrics
Original William Whiting 1860 poem:
Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy Word,
Who walked'st on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
Most Holy Spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
O Trinity of love and power!
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About Eternal Father, Strong to Save
Often sung in times of national crisis or at services for seafarers, Eternal Father, Strong to Save is a hymn that invokes the Trinity for protection. The English text, originally a poem by William Whiting from 1860, vividly describes God the Father's power over the sea, Christ's calming of the waters, and the Spirit's quieting of chaos. This SATB arrangement allows the choir to powerfully express the earnest plea for those in peril on the sea. The hymn's message of divine protection resonates deeply, making it a fitting choice for moments of solemnity and remembrance.
