Scripture Verse

Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto Thy statutes continually. Psalm 119:117

Introduction

portrait
Walter C. Macfarren
(1826–1905)

Words: Will­iam Bright. First pub­lished in The Month­ly Pack­et, Oc­to­ber, 1867, and lat­er in Bright’s Hymns and Oth­er Vers­es, se­cond edi­tion, 1874.

Music: Sun­rise in the Ge­sang­buch (Tri­er, Ger­ma­ny: 1695) (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

portrait
William Bright (1824–1901)

Lyrics

At Thy feet, O Christ, we lay
Thine own gift of this new day;
Doubt of what it holds in store
Makes us crave Thine aid the more;
Lest it prove a time of loss,
Mark, it Sav­ior, with Thy cross.

If it flow on calm and bright,
Be Thy­self our chief de­light;
If it bring un­known dis­tress,
Good is all that Thou canst bless;
Only, while its hours be­gin,
Pray we, keep them clear of sin.

We in part our weak­ness know
And in part dis­cern our foe;
Well for us, be­fore Thine eyes
All our dan­ger open lies;
Turn not from us, while we plead
Thy com­pas­sions and our need.

Fain would we Thy Word em­brace,
Live each mo­ment on Thy grace,
All our selves to Thee con­sign,
Fold up all our wills in Thine,
Think, and speak, and do, and be
Simply that which pleas­es Thee.

Hear us, Lord, and that right soon;
Hear, and grant the choic­est boon
That Thy love can e’er im­part,
Loyal sin­gle­ness of heart;
So shall this and all our days,
Christ and God, show forth Thy praise.