We Have Not Known Thee as We Ought

We have not known Thee as we ought

Nor learned Thy wis­dom

grace and pow­er;

The things of earth have filled our thought

And tri­fles of the pass­ing hour.

Lord

give us light Thy truth to see

And make us wise in know­ing Thee.

We have not feared Thee as we ought

Nor bowed be­neath Thine aw­ful eye

Nor guard­ed deed and word and thought

Remembering that God was nigh.

Lord

give us faith to know Thee near

And grant the grace of ho­ly fear.

We have not loved Thee as we ought

Nor cared that we are loved by Thee;

Thy pre­sence we have cold­ly sought

And feeb­ly longed Thy face to see.

Lord

give a pure and lov­ing heart

To feel and know the love Thou art.

We have not served Thee as we ought

Alas

the du­ties left un­done

The work with lit­tle fer­vor wrought

The bat­tles lost or scarce­ly won!

Lord

give the zeal

and give the might

For Thee to toil

for Thee to fight.

When shall we know Thee as we ought

And fear and love and serve aright?

When shall we

out of tri­al brought

Be per­fect in the land of light?

Lord

may we day by day pre­pare

To see Thy face and serve Thee there.