Come, Thou Almighty King

Hymn lyrics and .mp3 Download

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1. Come, thou almighty King, help us thy name to sing, help us to praise! Father all glorious, o'er all victorious, come and reign over us, Ancient of Days!

2. Come, thou incarnate Word, gird on thy mighty sword, our prayer attend! Come, and thy people bless, and give thy word success, Spirit of holiness, on us descend!

3. Come, holy Comforter, thy sacred witness bear in this glad hour. Thou who almighty art, now rule in every heart, and ne'er from us depart, Spirit of power!

4. To thee, great One in Three, eternal praises be, hence, evermore. Thy sovereign majesty may we in glory see, and to eternity love and adore!

Words by: Anonymous
Music by: Felice de Giardini

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Story of the hymn

The hymn “Come, Thou Almighty King” is one of the best-known hymns in English-speaking churches, and what makes it especially interesting is that its author remains anonymous. Here’s the story behind it:

Origins
The hymn first appeared in 1757 in George Whitefield’s Collection of Hymns for Social Worship. The words were published anonymously, there’s no author listed, and to this day no one knows for certain who wrote it.

Some have speculated that Charles Wesley (the great Methodist hymn writer) may have been the author because the style and themes resemble his work. But Wesley never claimed it, and most hymnologists now think it was not his.
Because of its appearance in Whitefield’s collection, it spread widely in Methodist, Baptist, and other evangelical circles.

Content & Theme
The hymn is a Trinitarian prayer, calling on God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to come and rule in the hearts of worshipers.
Verse 1 calls upon God the Father (“Come, Thou Almighty King”).
Verse 2 addresses Christ (“Come, Thou Incarnate Word”).
Verse 3 invokes the Holy Spirit (“Come, Holy Comforter”).
Verse 4 is a doxology, giving glory to the Trinity.
This makes it one of the most enduring hymns for Trinity Sunday or services emphasizing the Triune God.

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The Tune
The hymn is usually sung to the tune “Italian Hymn” (also known as “Trinity”), composed by Felice de Giardini (1716-1796), an Italian violinist who moved to England.
The tune and text fit so perfectly together that they have been paired ever since.

Legacy
Even though the author is unknown, “Come, Thou Almighty King” has become one of the most beloved opening hymns in Christian worship.
Its anonymous authorship gives it a kind of “universal voice”-a prayer not owned by one person, but by the church at large.