The Savior Bids Us Watch and Pray

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41

Words: Thomas Hastings, Spiritual Songs for Social Worship (Utica, New York: 1831), number 119.

Music: Byefield Thomas Hastings, 1840 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

Chimes Lowell Mason, 1841 (🔊 pdf nwc)
Corbet (Mason) William Mason, in the American Tune Book (Boston Massachusetts: Oliver Ditson, 1869), page 164 (🔊 pdf nwc)
Peterborough (Harrison) Ralph Harrison, 1786 (🔊 pdf nwc)
Siloam Isaac B. Woodbury, 1842 (🔊 pdf nwc)
Tampico anonymous, in the Christian Hymn and Tune Book, edited by A. S. Hayden (repeats last line of each verse) (Chicago Illinois: Root & Cady, 1870), page 181 (🔊 pdf nwc)
Vanmeter Isaac B. Woodbury (1819–1858) (🔊 pdf nwc)

The Savior bids us watch and pray
Through life’s momentous hour,
And grants the Spirit’s quickening ray
To those who seek His power.

The Savior bids us watch and pray,
Maintain a warrior’s strife;
O Christian! hear His voice today:
Obedience is thy life.

The Savior bids us watch and pray,
For soon the hour will come
That calls us from the earth away
To our eternal home.

The Savior bids us watch and pray,
O hearken to His voice,
And follow where He leads the way,
To Heav’n’s eternal joys!

Scripture Verse