Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Psalm 90:12
Words: Christopher Wordsworth, The Holy Year (London: Rivingtons, 1862), pages 22–23. New Year’s Day.
Music: Iosco, from an old German chorale. Melody attributed to John Hus (1369–1415) (🔊 pdf nwc).
Alternate Tunes:
Another year has now begun
With silent pace its course to run;
Let us our hearts and voices raise
To God in songs of prayer and praise.
Accept our penitential tears,
O Lord, for sins of bygone years;
And with the blood of Jesu spilt
O wash away Thy servants’ guilt.
Father, Thy bounteous love we bless,
For gifts and mercies numberless;
For life and health, for grace and peace,
And hope of joys that never cease.
Our days and years decay and die,
Mementos of mortality;
Make us to see our own brief hours
In falling leaves, and fading flowers.
O Son of God, Thou Savior dear,
Teach us to walk as strangers here,
With hearts in Heav’n, that we may come
To where Thou art, our Father’s home.
Make us to feel that Thou art nigh,
We ever in our master’s eye,
Mindful of that account to live,
Which we to Thee, our judge, must give.
Thou, Christ, who makest all things new,
O give us hearts both pure and true,
That each may shine, a precious gem,
Lord, in Thy New Jerusalem.
Grant us, O Comforter, Thy grace,
And speed us on our earthly race,
In body, spirit, and in soul,
Right onward to the heav’nly goal.
Blest Three in One, to Thee we pray,
Defend, and guide us on our way;
That we at last with joy may see
The New Year of eternity.