Scripture Verse

He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. Psalm 126:6

Introduction

Words: Knowles Shaw, 1874. Shaw wrote mu­sic for these lyr­ics, but George Mi­nor’s tune is un­ive­rsal­ly used to­day.

Music: George A. Mi­nor, 1880 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Mi­nor (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Knowles Shaw
1834–1878

Lyrics

Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;
Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Refrain

Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves,
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves,

Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows,
Fearing neither clouds nor winter’s chilling breeze;
By and by the harvest, and the labor ended,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Refrain

Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master,
Though the loss sustained our spirit often grieves;
When our weeping’s over, He will bid us welcome,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Refrain