Scripture Verse

Hear my prayer, O God. Psalm 54:2

Introduction

portrait
John B. Dykes (1823–1876)

Words: Love M. Will­is, in Tif­fa­ny’s Month­ly Ma­ga­zine, 1859. It ap­peared in Hymns of the Spir­it, by Sam­uel Long­fel­low & Sam­uel John­son, 1864, where the text was mo­di­fied con­sid­er­ably, prob­ab­ly by Long­fel­low.

Music: St. Syl­ves­ter John B. Dykes, 1862 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Will­is (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Father, hear the pray­er we of­fer:
Nor for ease that pray­er shall be,
But for strength, that we may ev­er
Live our lives cou­rage­ous­ly.

Not for­ev­er in green pas­tures
Do we ask our way to be,
But the steep and rug­ged path­way
May we tread re­joic­ing­ly.

Not for­ev­er by still wa­ters
Would we id­ly, qui­et stay;
But would smite the liv­ing fount­ains
From the rocks along our way.

Be our strength in hours of weak­ness,
In our wan­der­ings be our guide;
Through en­dea­vor, fail­ure, dan­ger,
Father, be Thou at our side.

Let our path be bright or drea­ry,
Storm or sun­shine be our share;
May our souls in hope un­wea­ry
Make Thy work our cease­less pray­er.