1. Thou who the night in prayer didst spend
And then didst Thine apostles send
And bidd'st us pray the harvest's Lord
To send forth sowers of Thy Word,
Hear and Thy chosen servants bless
With sev'nfold gifts of holiness.
2. Oh, may Thy pastors faithful be,
Not lab'ring for themselves, but Thee!
Give grace to feed with wholesome food
The sheep and lambs bought by Thy blood,
To tend Thy flock, and thus to prove
How dearly they the Shepherd love.
3. Oh, may Thy people faithful be
And in Thy pastors honor Thee
And with them work and for them pray
And gladly Thee in them obey,
Receive the prophet of the Lord
And gain the prophet's own reward!
4. So may we when our work is done
Together stand before Thy throne
And joyful hearts and voices raise
In one united song of praise,
With all the bright celestial host,
To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Hymn #493 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_
Text: Luke 6:12 ff.
Author: Christopher Wordsworth, 1862, cento, alt.
Composer: Dimitri S. Bortniansky, 1822, ad.
Tune: "St. Petersburg"