Father of mer­cies, bow Thine ear,
Attentive to our ear­nest pray­er;
We plead for those who plead for Thee;
Successful plead­ers may they be!

How great their work, how vast their charge,
Do Thou their an­xious souls en­large:
Their best ac­quirem­ents are our gain,
We share the bless­ings they ob­tain.

Clothe Thou with en­er­gy di­vine
Their words, and let their words be Thine;
To them Thy sac­red truth re­veal,
Suppress their fear, in­flame their zeal.

Teach them aright to sow the seed;
Teach them Thy chos­en flock to feed;
Teach them im­mor­tal souls to gain,
Nor let them la­bor, Lord, in vain.

Let throng­ing mul­ti­tudes around
Hear from their lips the joy­ful sound;
In hum­ble strains Thy grace adore,
And feel Thy new-cre­at­ing pow­er.

Let sin­ners break their mas­sy chains,
Distressèd souls for­get their pains;
And light thro’ dist­ant realms be spread,
Till Zi­on rears her droop­ing head.