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64
visions until in its present form it became one of the
grandest hymns of the Lutheran Church. All but one
of the original hymns by Olavus Petri in the edition
of 1536 are still retained in the Swedish Psalm Book
of 1695 and 1819. In the so-called "Wallinian Psalm
Book" of the latter year there are twenty-two hymns
from the Psalm Book of Olavus Petri (1530 edition),
but many more ought to have been included, especially
his excellent Reformation hymn, "Thy Sacred Word,
O Lord, of old" (O Herre Gud, ditt helga ord). This
hymn is taken up again in revised form in most of the
newly proposed Swedish hymnodies. Seven of the nine
stanzas are here reproduced in English according to the
original form of the hymn, successive alterations and
revisions being disregarded in the interest of
authenticity.
Thy sacred Word, O Lord, of old
Was veiled about and darkened,
And in its stead were legends told,
To which the people harkened;
Thy Word, for which the faithful yearned,
The worldlings kept in hiding,
And into human fables turned
Thy truth, the all-abiding.
Thy Word is the true bread of life
To hungering souls and humble.
Who seek their all by worldly strife
In worldly snares shall stumble.
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