Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

ST. DENIO11.11.11.11

Words: Walter Chalmers SmithMusic: ST. DENIO, Welsh hymn melody (John Roberts, 1839), 1839

Key
Stanzas

Practice player: melody only, played by your browser. The intro is the closing line of the tune, as many churches play it. Melody from the Open Hymnal Project (public domain).

Words

1

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessèd, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great Name we praise.

2

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice, like mountains, high soaring above
Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

3

To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish but naught changeth Thee.

4

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
But of Thy rich graces this grace, Lord, impart
Take the veil from our face, the vile from our heart.

5

All laud we would render; O help us to see
'Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee,
And so let Thy glory, almighty, impart,
Through Christ in His story, Thy Christ to the heart.

Scripture

The Bible passages this hymn draws on, in the King James Version.

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Romans 1:20

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