God’s Word Is Like a Flaming Sword

God’s Word is like a flaming sword,
A wedge that cleaves the stone;
Keen as a fire, so burns His Word,
And pierces flesh and bone.
Let it go forth o’er all the earth
To cleanse our hearts within,
To show God’s power in Satan’s hour
And break the might of sin.

God’s Word, a wondrous guiding star,
On pilgrim hearts does rise,
Leads those to God who dwell afar,
And makes the simple wise.
Let not its light e’er sink in night,
But in each spirit shine,
That none may miss Heaven’s final bliss,
Led by God’s light divine.

Author: Carl Boberg

Year: 1885

This is a translation of the Swedish hymn 'Guds ord är som en eld och hammare' by Carl Boberg (author of 'How Great Thou Art'). The English version is commonly attributed to him, though the translator is sometimes listed separately (e.g., in some hymnals as translated by Samuel Rodigast or others). The imagery and structure match Boberg's original.