Bless, O Lord, the op­en­ing year,
To each soul as­semb­led here:
Clothe Thy Word with pow­er di­vine,
Make us will­ing to be Thine.

Shepherd of Thy blood-bought sheep!
Teach the sto­ny heart to weep;
Let the blind have eyes to see,
See them­selves, and look on Thee!

Let the minds of all our youth
Feel the force of sac­red truth;
While the Gos­pel call they hear,
May they learn to love and fear.

Show them what their ways have been,
Show the des­ert of their sin;
Then Thy dy­ing love re­veal,
This shall melt a heart of steel.

Where Thou hast Thy work be­gun,
Give new strength the race to run;
Scatter dark­ness, doubts and fears,
Wipe away the mourn­ers’ tears.

Bless us all both old and young;
Call forth praise from ev­ery tongue:
Let the whole as­sem­bly prove
All Thy pow­er, and all Thy love.