Bread of the World in Mercy Broken

This Eucharistic hymn was written by English clergyman Reginald Heber (1783–1826), and first published in "Hymns Written and Adapted to the Weekly Service of the Church Year" in 1827.

It originally had the subtitle "Before the Sacrament."

With meter 9.8.9.8, tunes it is set to include:

EUCHARISTIC HYMN by John S. B. Hodges (1830-1915) - which was composed for it.
RENDEZ Á DIEU by Louis Bourgeois (1543, and revised 1551).

Downloads

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PowerPoint slides

Choral arrangement (SATB) by David Schwoebel, with optional a cappella. Published by Laurel Press

Examples

Contemporary / praise-band setting

Instrumental version - piano. Tune: EUCHARIST HYMN

Instrumental version - organ. Tune: RENDEZ Á DIEU

Solo singer, with light organ backing

Choral setting- unaccompanied

Lyrics

Traditional

Bread of the world, in mercy broken,
Wine of the soul, in mercy shed,
By Whom the words of life were spoken,
And in Whose death our sins are dead.

Look on the heart by sorrow broken,
Look on the tears by sinners shed;
And be Thy feast to us the token,
That by Thy grace our souls are fed.

Modern language

Bread of the world, in mercy broken,
Wine of the soul, in mercy shed,
By whom the words of life were spoken,
And in whose death our sins are dead.

Look on the heart by sorrow broken,
Look on the tears by sinners shed;
And be your feast to us the token,
That by your grace our souls are fed.