Scripture Verse

He heareth the prayer of the righteous. Proverbs 15:29

Introduction

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Joseph Barnby (1838–1896)
National Portrait Gallery

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Words: An­na L. Bar­bauld, 1773.

Music: Lit­ling­ton Tow­er Jo­seph Barn­by, 1862 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Anna L. Barbauld (1743–1825)
National Portrait Gallery

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Lyrics

When, as re­turns the so­lemn day,
Man comes to meet his mak­er, God,
What rites, what hon­ors shall he pay?
How spread His so­ve­reign name abroad?

From mar­ble domes and gild­ed spires
Shall curl­ing clouds of in­cense rise,
And gems and gold and gar­lands deck
The cost­ly pomp of sac­ri­fice?

Vain, sin­ful man! cre­ation’s Lord
Thy gold­en of­fer­ings may well spare;
But give thy heart, and thou shalt find
Here dwells a God who hear­eth pray­er.

O grant us, in this so­lemn hour,
From earth and sin’s al­lure­ments free,
To feel Thy love, to own Thy pow­er,
And raise each rap­tured thought to Thee.