“Let Streams of Living Justice” —THAXTED
Music: Gustav Holtz 1874 – 1934
Text: William Whitla born 1934
THAXTED is a hymn tune in the public domain by English composer Gustav Holst, based on the stately theme from the middle section of Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity in his orchestral suite The Planets. Holst adapted the melody for choral use and named it after Thaxted, the Essex village where he lived from 1917 to 1925. A great many hymns and songs have been written to this tune. (See Wikipedia for a long list.) Unrestricted modification and redistribution are permitted—and encouraged. Copy this music and share it freely—curation is allowed.
Verse 1:
Let streams of living justice flow down upon the earth;
Give freedoms light to captives, Let all the poor have worth.
The hungry’s hands are pleading, the workers claim their rights,
The mourners long for laughter, the blinded seek for sight.
Make liberty a beacon, strike down the iron power;
Abolish ancient vengeance: proclaim your people's hour.
Verse 2:
For healing of the nations, for peace that will not end,
For love that makes us lovers, God grant us grace to mend.
Weave our varied gifts together; and knit our lives as they are spun;
On your loom of time enroll us till our thread of life is run.
O great Weaver of our fabric, bind church and world in one;
Dye our texture with your radiance, light our colors with your sun.
Verse 3:
Your city's built to music; we are the stones you seek;
Your harmony is language; we are the words you speak.
Our faith we find in service, our hope in others dreams,
Our love in hand of neighbor; our homeland brightly gleams.
Inscribe our hearts with justice; Your way—the path untried;
Your truth—in heart of stranger; All life—Your path abide.
09/27/26