When Thy sol­diers take their swords,
When they speak the so­lemn words,
When they kneel be­fore Thee here,
Feeling Thee, their Fa­ther, near;
These Thy child­ren, Lord, de­fend;
To their help Thy Spi­rit send.

When the world’s sharp strife is nigh,
When they hear the bat­tle cry,
When they rush in­to the fight,
Knowing not temp­ta­tion’s might;
These Thy child­ren, Lord, de­fend;
To their zeal Thy wis­dom lend.

When their hearts are lift­ed high
With suc­cess or vic­to­ry,
When they feel the con­que­ror’s pride;
Lest they grow self sa­tis­fied,
These Thy child­ren, Lord, de­fend;
Teach their souls to Thee to bend.

When the vows that they have made,
When the pray­ers that they have prayed,
Shall be fad­ing from their hearts;
When their first warm faith de­parts;
These Thy child­ren, Lord, defend;
Keep them faith­ful to the end.

Through life’s con­flicts guard us all,
Or if wound­ed some should fall
Ere the vic­to­ry be won,
For the sake of Christ, Thy Son,
These Thy child­ren, Lord, de­fend;
And in death Thy com­fort bend.