Lord of the Harvest, Once Again

Lord of the har­vest

once again

We thank Thee for the rip­ened grain;

For crops safe car­ried

sent to cheer

Thy serv­ants through an­oth­er year;

For all sweet ho­ly thoughts sup­plied

By seed time

and by har­vest tide.

The bare dead grain

in au­tumn sown

Its robe of ver­nal green it puts on;

Glad from its wint­ry grave it springs

Fresh gar­nished by the King of kings;

So

Lord

to those who sleep in Thee

Shall new and glo­ri­ous bo­dies be.

Nor vain­ly of Thy Word we ask

A les­son from the reape­r’s task:

So shall Thine an­gels is­sue forth:

The tares be burnt; the just of earth

To wind and storm ex­posed no more

Be ga­thered to their Fa­ther’s store.

Daily

O Lord

our pray­ers be said

As Thou hast taught

for dai­ly bread;

But not alone our bo­dies feed

Supply our faint­ing spir­its’ need:

O Bread of life

from day to day

Be Thou their com­fort

food

and stay.