Scripture Verse

Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing. They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters. Psalm 107:22–23

Introduction

Words: Ro­bert Fer­gus­son, cir­ca 1838. Pub­lished in Li­tur­gy and Hymns for the Use of the Pro­test­ant Church of the Unit­ed Breth­ren, or Mo­ra­vi­ans (Beth­le­hem, Penn­syl­van­ia: Mo­ra­vi­an Pub­li­ca­tion Of­fice, 1866), num­ber 922.

Music: Ware­ham Will­iam Knapp, 1738 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

portrait
William Knapp (1698–1768)

Lyrics

This ship we now com­mend to Thee,
Thou God of pro­vi­dence and grace;
Here may Thy pre­sence ev­er dwell,
To sanc­ti­fy and bless the place.

Lord, speed the ves­sel in its course;
Let winds and waves pro­pi­tious be;
Let Thy di­vine pro­tect­ion shield
All whom we now com­mend to Thee.

Hallowed to Thee be ev­ery heart:
Instructed in Thy right­eous will,
Where’er they go, whate’er they do,
In all, Thy great de­signs ful­fill.

O God of Beth­el! hear our pray­er,
And keep Thy ser­vants to the end;
Then let us meet around Thy throne,
A blest eter­ni­ty to spend.