I Saw a Mighty Angel Fly

Author: Sacred Hymns, Manchester, 1840

This chart compares the text from different versions of “I Saw a Mighty Angel Fly” in English.




I Saw a Mighty Angel Fly
Hymns (1948), no. 255

I Saw a Mighty Angel Fly
Hymns (1985, 2021-digital), no. 15

1. I saw a mighty angel fly;
1. I saw a mighty angel fly;
To earth he bent his way,
To earth he bent his way,
A message bearing from on high
A message bearing from on high
To cheer the sons of day.
To cheer the sons of day.
Truth is the message which he bears,
Truth is the message which he bears,
The gospel’s joyful sound,
The gospel’s joyful sound,
To calm our doubts, to chase our fears,
To calm our doubts, to chase our fears,
And make our joys abound.
And make our joys abound.
3.2. He cries, and with a mighty voice;
3.2. He cries, and with a mighty voice;
Ye nations lend an ear,
Ye nations lend an ear,
And isles and continents rejoice,:
And isles and continents rejoice,:
The great Redeemer’s near!
The great Redeemer’s near!
He cries; let ev’ry ear attend,
He cries; let ev’ry ear attend,
And thrones and empires all!
And thrones and empires all!
Fear God, and make the Lord your friend,
Fear God, and make the Lord your friend,
The King, the Lord of all!
The King, the Lord of all!
2. Truth is the tidings which he bears,
2. Truth is the tidings which he bears,
The gospel’s joyful sound,
The gospel’s joyful sound,
To calm our doubts, to chase our fears,
To calm our doubts, to chase our fears,
And make our joys abound.
And make our joys abound.
4. He cries. Let ev’ry ear attend,
4. He cries. Let ev’ry ear attend,
And thrones and empires all!
And thrones and empires all!
Fear God, and make the Lord your friend,
Fear God, and make the Lord your friend,
The King, the Lord of all!
The King, the Lord of all!
5. Fear God, and worship him who made.
5. Fear God, and worship him who made.
The heavens, earth, and sea.
The heavens, earth, and sea.
Fear him on whom your sins were laid,
Fear him on whom your sins were laid,
Who died to make you free.
Who died to make you free.
3. Fear God, who made the water pure,
3. Fear God, who made the water pure,
The heavens, sea, and land.
The heavens, sea, and land.
His judgment will be swift and sure;
His judgment will be swift and sure;
The day is nigh at hand.
The day is nigh at hand.
Then, all ye people, worship God;
Then, all ye people, worship God;
Give glory to his name!
Give glory to his name!
To spread these tidings far abroad
To spread these tidings far abroad
The holy angel came.
The holy angel came.

The text of this song is in public domain (originally published before 1930, or published before 1964 and not renewed).