Thy kingdom come, on bended knee
Thy kingdom come, on bended knee. Frederick Lucian Hosmer* (1840-1929).
Entitled ‘The Day of God', this hymn was written in 1891 for the commencement exercises of the Unitarian Meadville Theological School, Meadville, Pennsylvania (now part of Meadville Lombard Theological School, Chicago) on 12 June. It was published in The Thought of God in Hymns and Poems (Boston, 1894 edition). It is based on the opening supplication of the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6: 9-13):
Thy Kingdom come! on bended knee The passing ages pray;And faithful souls have yearned to see On earth that Kingdom’s day:
But the slow watches of the night Not less to God belong;And for the everlasting right The silent stars are...
If you have a valid subscription to Dictionary of Hymnology, please log inlog in to view this content. If you require a subscription, please click here.
MLA style (see MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing, 3rd Ed.)
. "Thy kingdom come, on bended knee."
The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Canterbury Press. Web. 22 Jan. 2026.<
http://www.hymnology.co.uk/t/thy-kingdom-come,-on-bended-knee>.
Chicago style (see The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th Ed.)
. "Thy kingdom come, on bended knee."
The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Canterbury Press, accessed January 22, 2026,
http://www.hymnology.co.uk/t/thy-kingdom-come,-on-bended-knee.