O Speak to Me, Dear Jesus

O speak to me

dear Je­sus

This world is wide and cold

And some­thing in its wea­ry round

Makes sad the heart and old;

Then speak to me

dear Je­sus

Some ten­der word of Thine

Till all the soul with­in me

Leaps up with life di­vine.

O speak to me

dear Je­sus

When wild temp­ta­tions rise;

Tear from my heart each idle hope

These re­fuges of lies:

Build me up­on Thee

Je­sus

Lest slip­ping I should fall;

I shi­ver ’mid the dark­ness:

Be Thou my all in all.

Speak Thou to me

dear Je­sus

As once

in old­en times

Thou didst in lon­ely Pat­mos isle

In vi­sioned bright­ness shine

Before the loved Apos­tle

Till all His sad­ness fled

As stand­ing there in glo­ry

In spir­it he was led.

Then whis­per to me

Je­sus

Deep

deep with­in my soul;

And thus

the act­ions vi­si­ble

By hid­den springs con­trol;

Each day must have an end­ing

Each day

how­ev­er long;

Time’s notes e’en now are blend­ing

With Heav’n’s eter­nal song.