Lord, Give Me Light to Do Thy Work

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.