Scripture Verse

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Introduction

Words: Ano­ny­mous, in Roy­al Dia­dem, ed­it­ed by Ro­bert Low­ry & W. How­ard Doane (New York & Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois: Big­low & Main, 1872), num­ber 39.

Music: Jo­seph B. Stur­de­vant (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know the au­thor, or where to get a good pho­to of him or Stur­de­vant,

Lyrics

Brothers, when the way is lone­ly,
And the sky is ov­er­cast
With dark sha­dows that be­to­ken
Sorrow’s win­try blast—
Brothers, then, O keep on pray­ing;
Keep on pray­ing all the day;
All is safe in Christ re­ly­ing;
O bro­thers, on­ly pray.

Refrain

Keep on pray­ing, ev­er pray­ing,
When the sky is ov­er­cast;
Christ will keep us all from stray­ing;
O bro­thers, watch and pray.

Brothers, when the sun­shine com­eth,
And the sha­dows dis­ap­pear;
When the joys of faith tri­um­phant
Conquer all our fear—
Brothers, still we’ll keep on pray­ing;
Keep on pray­ing all the day;
It will make the sun­shine bright­er;
O bro­thers, watch and pray.

Refrain

Brothers, while we jour­ney on­ward,
Through life’s brief and change­ful day,
Though its plea­sures or its sor­rows
Crown our pil­grim way—
Brothers, we will keep on pray­ing;
Keep on pray­ing as we go;
Soon our wea­ry, faint­ing spir­its
The joys of Heav’n shall know.

Refrain

illustration
Praying Hands
Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528)