Scripture Verse

In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3

Introduction

Words: Unknown au­thor (Ma­tu­ti­nus al­ti­ora); pub­lished by J. Mas­ters as King Al­fred’s Hymn, words by O. B. C., mu­sic by Dr. Smith (though there is no known evi­dence King Al­fred wrote the La­tin text). Adapt­ed by Ho­ra­tio Nel­son in Hymns for Saints’ Days, and Oth­er Hymns, 1864.

Music: In­no­cents The Par­ish Choir, 1850. Har­mo­ny by Will­iam H. Monk, 1861 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

If you know O.B.C.’s full name, or where to get a good pic­ture of him or Nel­son (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
William Monk (1823–1889)

Lyrics

As the sun doth dai­ly rise,
Brightening all the morn­ing skies,
So to Thee with one ac­cord
Lift we up our hearts, O Lord.

Day by day pro­vide us food,
For from Thee come all things good;
Strength un­to our souls af­ford
From Thy liv­ing bread, O Lord.

Be our guard in sin and strife;
Be the lead­er of our life;
Lest from Thee we stray abroad,
Stay our way­ward feet, O Lord.

Quickened by the Spir­it’s grace
All Thy ho­ly will to trace
While we dai­ly search Thy Word,
Wisdom true im­part, O Lord.

When the sun with­draws his light,
When we seek our rest at night,
Thou, by sleep­less hosts ad­ored,
Hear the pray­er of faith, O Lord!

When the hours are dark and drear,
When the tempt­er lurk­eth near,
By Thy strength­en­ing grace out­poured,
Save the tempt­ed ones, O Lord!

Praise we, with the hea­ven­ly host,
Father, Son and Ho­ly Ghost;
Thee would we with one ac­cord
Praise and mag­ni­fy, O Lord.