I Vow to Thee, My Country

I Vow to Thee, My Country

Text written in 1918 by Sir Cecil Spring-Rice (1859-1918)

Sung to THAXTED from "The Planets" 1918, composed by Gustav Holst (1874-1934)

V. 1 I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above,

Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love:

The love that asks the reason, the love that stands the test,

That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;

The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,

The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.

Proverbs 3:17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.

Hebrews 11:14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.

V. 2 And there's another country, I've heard of long ago,

Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;

We may not count her armies, we may not see her King;

Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;

And one by one and fervently we pray for her increase,

And her ways are ways of gentleness and all her paths are peace.