Lord, Your Word Abiding

Word of Consolation, Message of Salvation

Lord, Your Word Abiding is an Anthony G. Petti adaption of the 1861 hymn written by the Anglican Vicar, Henry W. Baker (1821-1877). As ed­it­or-in-chief from 1860 to 1877 of Hymns: An­cient and Mo­dern, Baker con­tri­but­ed a number of hymns, tunes, and trans­la­tions to this influential and still popular hymnal. Lord, Your Word Abiding is set to the 1861 tune, Ravenshaw by William H.Monk (1823-1889), which he adapted from the 1531 tune, Ave Hierarchia composed by the Lutheran Pastor and contemporary of Martin Luther, Michael Weisse (c1488-c.1534). In the Liturgy of the Hours it is used during the Office of Readings.


Tune: Ravenshaw

LORD, THY WORD ABIDETH by Henry W. Baker, 1861 (Public Domain)

1. Lord, Thy Word abideth,
And our footsteps guideth;
Who its truth believeth
Light and joy receiveth.

2. When our foes are near us,
Then Thy Word doth cheer us,
Word of consolation,
Message of salvation.

3. When the storms are o’er us,
And dark clouds before us,
Then its light directeth,
And our way protecteth.

4. Who can tell the pleasure,
Who recount the treasure,
By Thy Word imparted
To the simple hearted?

5. Word of mercy, giving
Succor to the living;
Word of life, supplying
Comfort to the dying!

6. O that we, discerning,
Its most holy learning,
Lord, may love and fear Thee,
Evermore be near Thee!


Performed by the Ely Cathedral Choir