Almighty God, in Humble Prayer

Almighty God

in hum­ble pray­er

To Thee our souls we lift

Do Thou our wait­ing minds pre­pare

For Thy most need­ful gift.

We ask not gold­en streams of wealth

Along our path to flow;

We ask not un­de­cay­ing health

Nor length of years be­low.

We ask not hon­ors

which an hour

May bring and take away;

We ask not plea­sure

pomp and pow­er

Lest we should go as­tray.

We ask for wis­dom—Lord

im­part

The know­ledge how to live;

A wise and un­der­stand­ing heart

To all be­fore Thee give.

For we

as child­ren

born in sin

Know not

till Thou has taught

How to go out

or how come in

By word

or deed

or thought.

The young re­mem­ber Thee in youth

Before the ev­il days!

The old be guid­ed by Thy truth

In wis­dom’s plea­sant ways!