Scripture Verse

The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another. Genesis 31:49

Introduction

Words: Isa­bel­la S. Ste­ven­son, 1869. She wrote this hymn af­ter her bro­ther was sent to South Af­ri­ca for health rea­sons. It was sung on the HMS Bac­chan­te, and pub­lished in the Ma­nu­al of Com­mon Pray­er at Sea, 1886.

Music: Cairn­brook Eb­en­ez­er Prout, in the Con­gre­ga­tion­al Church Hym­nal, 1887 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Ste­ven­son or Prout (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Holy Fa­ther, in Thy mer­cy,
Hear our anx­ious pray­er.
Keep our loved ones, now far dist­ant,
’Neath Thy care.

Jesus, Sav­ior, let Thy pre­sence
Be their light and guide;
Keep, oh, keep them, in their weak­ness,
At Thy side.

When in sorrow, when in dan­ger,
When in lone­li­ness,
In Thy love look down and com­fort
Their dis­tress.

May the joy of Thy sal­va­tion
Be their strength and stay;
May they love and may they praise Thee
Day by day.

Holy Spir­it, let Thy teach­ing
Sanctify their life;
Send Thy grace, that they may con­quer
In the strife.

Father, Son, and Ho­ly Spir­it,
God the One in Three,
Bless them, guide them, save them, keep them
Near to Thee.