The Fourfold Crown: A Hymn of Endless Praise
Stanza 1 – The Only Wise
To the only wise God, our Saviour,
whose thoughts outnumber grains of sand,
who weighed the mountains in a balance,
who holds the oceans in His hand;
before the architect of evil
had sketched his first rebellious line,
Your love already wrote the sequel
in blood that tastes of bread and wine.
Stanza 2 – Glory
Be glory, bright as midday sun
upon the sea of crystal glass,
where elders fall and saints are stunned
by beauty time cannot surpass;
it flashes from the jasper wall,
it echoes in the seraph’s call,
it crowns the Lamb who bore the fall.
Stanza 3 – Majesty
Be majesty, the royal dread
that makes the cherubim veil face,
yet stoops to wipe the tear unshed
and warm the orphan’s hiding place;
its thunder clothes the judgment seat,
its whisper makes the tempest fleet,
its mercy kisses justice’ feet.
Stanza 4 – Dominion
Be dominion, the gentle yoke
that breaks the oppressor’s iron rod,
the kingdom where the meek are folk
and children lead the way to God;
its banner over us is love,
its law is written from above
upon the heart, and not the glove.
Stanza 5 – Power
Be power, the resurrection might
that rolled the stone and rent the veil,
that turned the midnight into light
and made the grave itself grow pale;
it quickens dust, it wakes the sleeper,
it guards the soul the Reaper’s keeper,
it plunges to the darkest deep, or
lifts the spirit higher, steeper.
Stanza 6 – Now
Both now—
while markets crash and lovers part,
while tyrants rage and poets start,
while mothers rock and soldiers bleed,
Your sovereign hand supplies the need;
the sparrow falls, yet not in vain,
for every loss is wrapped in gain.
Stanza 7 – Ever
And ever—
when clocks are melted into song,
when “is” and “was” no longer throng,
when faith gives way to sight complete
and hope lies down at mercy’s feet;
the fourfold crown will still be worn
by Him who rose with pierced side torn.
Final Refrain
To the only wise God, our Saviour,
be glory and majesty,
dominion and power,
both now and ever.
Amen.