[We] labor, working with our own hands.
1 Corinthians 4:12
Words: Milton S. Littlefield, 1916.
Music: Brookfield Thomas B. Southgate, 1855 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good picture of Littlefield or Southgate (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
O Son of Man, Thou madest known,
Through quiet work in shop and home,
The sacredness of common things,
The chance of life that each day brings.
O workman true, may we fulfill
In daily life Thy Father’s will;
In duty’s call, Thy call we hear
To fuller life, through work sincere.
Thou master workman, grant us grace
The challenge of our tasks to face;
By loyal scorn of second best,
By effort true, to meet each test.
And thus we pray in deed and word,
Thy kingdom come on earth, O Lord;
In work that gives effect to prayer,
Thy purpose for Thy world we share.