You Are the Way CWB II 649

This c19 text with obvious liturgical uses is by George Washington Doane. CWB II has Becket G. Senchur’s modernised version (no “thees”), but this makes the tortured yoda style syntax look worse. With archaic language the sentence structure is probably more acceptable.

Here it is set to TALLIS’ ORDINAL.

You are the Way: in you alone
from sin and death we rise;
without your grace we nothing are,
in you all goodness lies.

You are the Truth: your Word alone
full wisdom can impart;
and Word alone transforms the mind,
and purifies the heart.

You are the life: the empty tomb
Proclaims your victory,
And those who put their trust in you
shall evermore be free.

You are the Way, the Truth, the Life;
grant us that Way to see,
that Truth to keep, that Life to live,
that we your friends may be.

Original text:

1. Thou art the way: to Thee alone
   From sin and death we flee;
   And he who would the Father seek
   Must seek Him, Lord, by Thee.
2. Thou art the truth: Thy Word alone
   True wisdom can impart;
   Thou only canst inform the mind,
   And purify the heart.
3. Thou art the life: the rending tomb
   Proclaims Thy conqu’ring arm,
   And those who put their trust in Thee
   Not death nor hell shall harm.
4. Thou art the way, the truth, the life;
   Grant us that way to know,
   That truth to keep, that life to win,
   Whose joys eternal flow.