We have not known Thee as we ought,
Nor learned Thy wis­dom, grace and pow­er;
The things of earth have filled our thought,
And tri­fles of the pass­ing hour.
Lord, give us light Thy truth to see,
And make us wise in know­ing Thee.

We have not feared Thee as we ought,
Nor bowed be­neath Thine aw­ful eye,
Nor guard­ed deed and word and thought,
Remembering that God was nigh.
Lord, give us faith to know Thee near,
And grant the grace of ho­ly fear.

We have not loved Thee as we ought,
Nor cared that we are loved by Thee;
Thy pre­sence we have cold­ly sought,
And feeb­ly longed Thy face to see.
Lord, give a pure and lov­ing heart
To feel and know the love Thou art.

We have not served Thee as we ought,
Alas, the du­ties left un­done,
The work with lit­tle fer­vor wrought,
The bat­tles lost or scarce­ly won!
Lord, give the zeal, and give the might,
For Thee to toil, for Thee to fight.

When shall we know Thee as we ought,
And fear and love and serve aright?
When shall we, out of tri­al brought,
Be per­fect in the land of light?
Lord, may we day by day pre­pare
To see Thy face and serve Thee there.