While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
Genesis 8:22
Words: James Montgomery, Sacred Poems and Hymns (New York: D. Appleton, 1854), number 278, alt. For a wet harvest season.
Music: Rockingham (Miller) Karl P. E. Bach (1714–1788). Arranged by Edward Miller, 1790 (🔊 pdf nwc).
Alternate Tunes:
We lift our eyes, our hands, to Thee,
Our knees, our souls, to Thee we bend;
Thou Father of earth’s family,
Th’appointed weeks of harvest send.
The ground, Thy table, is full spread
With food to nourish man and beast;
Hast Thou prepared the children’s bread,
And wilt Thou now forbid the feast?
In summer, winter, day and night,
Both seed time, harvest, Thou hast willed;
And dew and rain, and warmth and light,
Have each their gracious work fulfilled.
Shall whelming floods the hopes destroy
Of those who in Thy promise trust?
Shall storms prevent the reaper’s joy,
And lay his confidence in dust?
O bid the winds and waters cease,
The lowering firmament unshroud;
Think on Thy covenant of peace,
Look on Thy bow—’tis in the cloud!
We fall adoring at Thy feet,
Our prayer is heard, the veil is riven;
With pure heart offerings let us eat
The bread that cometh down from Heav’n.