Scripture Verse

We are the clay, You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand. Isaiah 64:8

Introduction

portrait
Horatius Bonar
1808–1889

Words: Ho­ra­ti­us Bo­nar, Hymns of Faith and Hope, sec­ond ser­ies (Lon­don: James Nis­bet, 1861), page 234.

Music: Co­nis­bo­rough Wil­frid E. San­der­son, 1919 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Wilfred E. Sanderson
1878–1935

Lyrics

In the still air the music lies unheard;
In the rough marble beauty hides unseen;
To make the music and the beauty, needs
The master’s touch, the sculptor’s chisel keen.

Great Master, touch us with Thy skillful hand;
Let not the music that is in us die;
Great Sculptor, hew and polish us, nor let,
Hidden and lost, Thy form within us lie.

Spare not the stroke; do with us what Thou wilt;
Let there be naught unfinished, broken, marred;
Complete Thy purpose that we may become
Thy perfect image, O our God and Lord.