I have long appreciated the wonderful hymn, “Holy, Holy, Holy.” It extols the majestic greatness of God in his utter holiness. Recently I was introduced to a new verse written for the hymn. I was singing this familiar hymn along with the congregation when all of a sudden, at the fourth verse, there were new words. They struck me as all together fitting and appropriate. Though I had not thought of it before I realized the hymn lacked any explicit reference to how sinful people like us are enabled to know and interact with One so holy. This new verse in that particular location in the hymn fit beautifully, and I found it quite moving there in the midst of this reflection of God’s holiness to sing as well of His redeeming work.

I wondered if this was a verse which had been lost, but then thought, “I bet this was written by Justin Wainscott.” The latter proved to be true. The hymn with the new verse (marked with an asterisk) is below in case you and your church would like to use it as well.

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!