Father Hear The Prayer We Offer (Arr.) ()

Father, hear the prayer we offer:

Nor for ease that prayer shall be,

But for strength, that we may ever

Live our lives courageously.

Not forever in green pastures

Do we ask our way to be,

But the steep and rugged pathway

May we tread rejoicingly.

Not forever by still waters

Would we idly, quiet stay;

But would smite the living fountains

From the rocks along our way.

Be our strength in hours of weakness,

In our wanderings be our Guide;

Through endeavor, failure, danger,

Father, be Thou at our side.

Let our path be bright or dreary,

Storm or sunshine be our share;

May our souls in hope unweary

Make Thy work our ceaseless prayer.

Father, hear the prayer we offer:

Nor for ease that prayer shall be,

But for strength, that we may ever

Live our lives courageously.

Be our strength in hours of weakness,

In our wanderings be our Guide;

Through endeavor, failure, danger,

Father, be Thou at our side.

Love M. Will­is, in Tif­fa­ny’s Month­ly Mag­a­zine,

Words:

1859. It ap­peared in Hymns of the Spir­it,

by Sam­u­el Long­fel­low and Sam­u­el John­son,

1864, where the text was mod­i­fied con­sid­er­a­bly,

prob­ab­ly by Long­fel­low.

Music: St. Syl­ves­ter, John B. Dykes,

1862 (MI­DI, score). Al­ter­nate tunes:

Omni Die, in Cor­ner’s Ge­sang­buch, 1631;

ar­ranged by Will­iam S. Rock­stro, 1906

(MI­DI, score).

Stuttgart, Christ­ian F. Witt, 1715; adapt­ed by

Hen­ry J. Gaunt­lett (1805-1876) (MI­DI, score)