New Verse for “Holy, Holy, Holy”

We sang “Holy, Holy, Holy” in our services yesterday.  While this hymn has been a favorite by so many through the years, we sang an additional verse along with it.

Before anyone screams, “sacrilege,” I think you will appreciate the change.  I read about a verse that someone added because concerning the holiness of God, the hymn doesn’t articulate the greatest moment of holiness displayed – the cross.

I am so thankful for this addition by Justin Wainscott.  Here is his description here:

“Holy, Holy, Holy” is one of the all-time classic and beloved hymns of English hymnody. And for good reason. It’s God-centered and Trinitarian in its theology (it was originally written for Trinity Sunday), and it’s majestic musically.

But for some time now, I’ve felt as if there’s been something missing from this classic hymn. There’s no stanza that’s explicitly Christ-centered and cross-centered. While the cross certainly displays the love and grace and mercy of God, it also displays the holiness of God. And this is a truth that is often overlooked. So why not highlight this truth in a hymn about the holiness of God? We need to be reminded that sin has cost God greatly. At Calvary, God not only unleashed His mercy; He also upheld His holiness – all at the cost of His beloved Son.

So I’ve written a new stanza to sing with “Holy, Holy, Holy” to try to communicate these truths. I’m sure other hymn writers could offer a better additional stanza than this one, but here is my attempt to provide a Christ-centered and cross-centered stanza to a classic hymn (we’re going to sing it at our church between the original third and fourth stanzas).

Holy, holy, holy! raise our eyes to Calv’ry,
That we might behold Thy Son condemned upon the tree.
Oh, how sin has cost Thee; oh, Thy grace and mercy!
Christ, fully punished; sinners, fully free!

Isn’t that powerful?  Not only are the lyrics great, but it sounds like it belongs with the original verses.

Full Lyrics

If you want to see the full progression, here you go:

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
Who wert and art and evermore shalt be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
Though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
Only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

*Holy, holy, holy! Raise our eyes to Calv’ry,
That we might behold Thy Son condemned upon the tree;
Oh, how sin has cost Thee! Oh, Thy grace and mercy!
Christ, fully punished; sinners, fully free.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth and sky and sea;
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!