Hymn
The world is very evil
The world is very evil,
The times are waxing late.
Be sober and keep vigil,
The Judge is at the gate;
The Judge Who comes in mercy,
The Judge Who comes with might,
To terminate the evil,
To diadem the right.
Arise, arise, good Christian,
Let right to wrong succeed;
Let penitential sorrow
To heavenly gladness lead:
To the home of fadeless splendour,
Of flowers that bear no thorn,
Where they shall dwell as children,
Who here as exiles mourn;
'Mid power that knows no limit,
And wisdom free from bound,
Where rest a peace untroubled,
Peace holy and profound.
O happy, holy portion,
Refection for the blest,
True vision of true beauty,
Sweet cure for all distrest!
Thou hast no shore, fair ocean!
Thou hast no time, bright day!
Dear fountain of refreshment
To pilgrims far away!
Strive, man, to win that glory;
Toil, man, to gain that light;
Send hope before to grasp it,
Till hope be lost in sight.
O sweet and blessed country,
The home of God's elect!
O sweet and blessed country
That eager hearts expect!
Jesu, in mercy bring us
To that dear land of rest!
Who art with God the Father,
And Spirit, ever blest.
The world is very evil — Text from The Church Hymnal, 1920. Public domain. https://yeshuanow.com/hymns/the-world-is-very-evil
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Questions about this hymn
Who wrote The world is very evil?
The words of The world is very evil are credited to Bernard, of Cluny and J. M. Neale; the version here was published in 1920. The library holds 2 more hymns by Bernard, of Cluny, including Brief Life Is Here Our Portion and For Thee, O Dear, Dear Country.
Is The world is very evil public domain?
Yes. The words here are taken from The Church Hymnal, published in 1920. Works published before 1931 are out of copyright in the United States, so you can print, project, perform and record this hymn freely. How we source and check every hymn.
What is the metre of The world is very evil?
The world is very evil is in 7.6.7.6 D. Hymns in the same metre can usually be sung to the same tunes — for example, Sing to the Lord of Harvest, For Thee, O Dear, Dear Country and Lord of the living harvest.