Scripture Verse

Thou wilt hear me, O God: incline Thine ear unto me. Psalm 17:6

Introduction

portrait
François H. Barthélémon (1741–1808)

Words: Will­iam R. Al­ger, in Sing­ers and Songs of the Li­ber­al Faith, ed­it­ed by Al­fred P. Put­nam (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: Ro­berts Bro­thers, 1875), page 472.

Music: Bal­ler­ma Fran­çois H. Bar­thé­lé­mon (1741–1808). Adapt­ed by Ro­bert Simp­son in A Se­lect­ion of Or­ig­in­al Sac­red Mu­sic, 1833 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a bet­ter pic­ture of Bar­thé­lé­mon,

portrait
William R. Alger (1822–1905)

Lyrics

O Fa­ther, kind­ly deign to hear
The thanks Thy child­ren bring;
Help us with love and re­ver­ent fear
Thy lof­ty praise to sing.

And while be­fore Thy throne we bow,
Come Thou to ev­ery heart:
From sin O pu­ri­fy us now;
Give us that bet­ter part.

Remove to­day the world’s wild din;
Our souls from ev­il save;
Help us life’s nob­lest crown to win;
Guide us be­yond the grave.