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Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy, Holy, Holy
Words: Reginald Heber, 1826. Music: Nicaea, John B. Dykes, 1861. Public Domain

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee.
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who wert and art and ever more shall be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Scripture References
Rev 4:8-10; Isa 6:3; Ps 5:3; Ps 59:16; Ps 104:1-35

Notes
Heber wrote “Holy, Holy, Holy” in honor of Trinity Sunday, celebrating the three Persons of God: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. John Dykes composed the tune specifically for this hymn, and its name is a tribute to the the First Council of Nicaea which formalized the doctrine of the trinity in 325.

Poems and Hymns by Heber