Lord, give me light to do Thy work,
For only, Lord, from Thee
Can come the light, by which these eyes
The way of work can see.

In plain­est things I dai­ly err,
When walk­ing in the light
The wis­dom of this world af­fords,
However fair and bright.

In word, and plan, and deed I err,
When bu­si­est in Thy work;
Beneath the simp­lest forms of truth
The sub­tlest er­rors lurk.

The way is nar­row, oft­en dark,
With lights and sha­dows strewn;
I wan­der oft, and think it Thine,
When walk­ing in my own.

Yet plea­sant is the work for Thee,
And plea­sant is the way;
But Lord, the world is dark, and I
All prone to go as­tray.

Oh, send me light to do Thy work!
More light, more wis­dom give!
Then shall I work Thy work in­deed,
While on Thine earth I live.

So shall suc­cess be mine, in spite
Of fee­ble­ness in me;
Beyond all dis­ap­point­ment then
And fail­ure I shall be.

The work is Thine, not mine, O Lord;
It is Thy race we run;
Give light! and then shall all I do
Be well and tru­ly done.