Lord, Not for Light in Darkness

Lord

not for light in dark­ness do we pray

Not that the veil be lift­ed from our eyes

Not that the slow as­cen­sion of our day

Be oth­er­wise.

We know the paths where­in our feet should press

Across our hearts are writ­ten Thy de­crees;

Yet now O Lord

be mer­ci­ful to bless

With more than these.

Grant us the will to fa­shion as we feel;

Grant us the strength to la­bor as we know;

Grant us the pur­pose

ribbed and edged with steel

To strike the blow.

Knowledge we ask not

know­ledge Thou hast lent

But Lord

the will

there lies our bit­ter need;

Give us to build above the deep in­tent

The deed

the deed.