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HEARKEN TO THE THANKFUL REAPERS

Scripture Verse

Celebrate the Festival of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field. Exodus 23:16

Introduction

Words: J. Bownes, in Car­ols Old and Car­ols New, ed­it­ed by Charles L. Hut­chins (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: Par­ish Choir, 1916), num­ber 454.

Music: Si­cil­ian Ma­ri­ners from The Eu­ro­pe­an Ma­ga­zine and Lon­don Re­view, No­vem­ber 1792 (🔊 ).

Alternate Tune:

If you know Bownes’ full name, or where to get a good pho­­to of him (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), would you send us an e-mail?

Lyrics

Hearken to the thank­ful reapers,
Bearing to the gar­ner floor,
With their voic­es sing­ing glad­ness,
Sheaves of gold, mel­low store;
Alleluia, Al­le­lu­ia,
Praise to God for­ev­er­more.

First the blade from fur­row spring­ing
Grow into the ver­dant ear,
Which in time was gild­ed, rip­ened
With the seasons of the year;
Alleluia, Al­le­lu­ia,
Lord, Thy thank­ful reape­rs hear.

Praise we then the Lord Al­migh­ty,
Sitting on His throne on high,
Day by day He guards and feeds us,
Always list­ens to our cry;
Folds us in His arms of mer­cy,
Gives us Heav­en when we die.