Scripture Verse

My times are in Thy hand. Psalm 31:15

Introduction

Words: Har­ri­et W. Hall, Feb­ru­ary 10, 1869. Hall wrote this hymn for the in­stal­la­tion of Rev­er­end E. H. Hall at Wor­ces­ter, Mas­sa­chu­setts, in 1869.

Music: St. George’s Wind­sor George J. El­vey, 1858 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
George J. Elvey (1816–1893)
National Portrait Gallery

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Lyrics

Lord, be­neath whose eq­ual hand
Present, past, and fu­ture stand,
Hear us offer grate­ful praise
For Thy gifts in by­gone days:
Gifts of gain and gifts of loss,
Boon of crown, and boon of cross,
Blessings from our an­gels fled,
Living gifts from hands long dead.

Children of the pre­sent, we
Dare not face it without Thee.
In this vi­vid, stern today
Nerve our work, and hear us pray.
Help us keep no peace with sin,
Calm us by Thy peace with­in;
Shield us from the day’s fierce light,
Shine through­out the dark­some night.

For our fu­ture, best shall be
That which seem­eth best to Thee!
Take our start­ing hopes and fears,
Giver of our chang­ing years!
We would make nor pray­er nor moan;
Thou art wise, and Thou alone,
Father, in whose lov­ing hand
Present, past, and fu­ture stand.