Hymn
When Wilt Thou Save the People
When wilt Thou save the people?
O God of mercy, when?
Not kings and lords, but nations!
Not thrones and crowns, but men!
Flowers of Thy heart, O God, are they;
Let them not pass, like weeds, away,
Their heritage a sunless day.
God save the people.
Shall crime bring crime for ever,
Strength aiding still the strong?
Is it Thy will, O Father,
That man shall toil for wrong?
"No," say Thy mountains; "No," Thy skies;
Man's clouded sun shall brightly rise,
And songs be heard instead of sighs;
God saved the people!
When wilt Thou save the people?
O God of mercy, when?
The people, Lord, the people,
Not thrones and crowns, but men!
God save the people; Thine they are,
Thy children, as Thine angels fair;
From vice, oppression, and despair,
God save the people!
When Wilt Thou Save the People — Text from The Church Hymnal, 1920. Public domain. https://yeshuanow.com/hymns/when-wilt-thou-save-the-people
Chord chart coming soon
Want to play this one? Leave your email and we'll let you know when the chords are ready.
Questions about this hymn
Who wrote When Wilt Thou Save the People?
The words of When Wilt Thou Save the People were written by Ebenezer Elliott; the version here was published in 1920.
Is When Wilt Thou Save the People 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 When Wilt Thou Save the People?
When Wilt Thou Save the People is in 7.6.7.6.8.8.8.5.