Thy Sea is Great
Our Boats are Small

O Maker of the Mighty Deep

Whereon our vessels fare,

Above our life’s adventure keep

Thy faithful watch and care.

In Thee we trust, whate’er befall;

Thy sea is great, our boats are small.

We know not where the secret tides

Will help us or delay,

Nor where the lurking tempest hides,

Nor where the fogs are gray.

We trust in Thee, whate’er befall;

Thy sea is great, our boats are small.

When outward bound we boldly sail

And leave the friendly shore,

Let not our heart of courage fail

Until the voyage is o’er.

We trust in Thee, whate’er befall;

Thy sea is great, our boats are small.

When homeward bound we gladly turn,

O bring us safely there,

Where harbor-lights of friendship burn

And peace is in the air.

We trust in Thee, whate’er befall;

Thy sea is great, our boats are small.

Beyond the circle of the sea,

When voyaging is past,

We seek our final port in Thee;

O bring us home at last.

In Thee we trust, whate’er befall;

Thy sea is great, our boats are small.

Thy wisdom and Thy might appear,

Eternal God, through every year;

From day to day, from hour to hour,

Thy works reveal self-ordered power.

We worship Thee whose will hath laid

Thy sovereign rule on all things made;

The faithful stars, the fruitful earth,

Obey Thy laws that gave them birth.

Yet Thou canst make a marvel shine

Amid these mighty laws of Thine.

As when Thy servant Moses came

And saw the bush with Thee aflame.

We turn aside and tread the ways

That lead through wonder up to praise;

Wherever Thou by man art found

The homely earth is holy ground.

If Thou hast formed us out of dust

Through ages long,—in Thee we trust;

O grant us in our souls to see

The living flame that comes from Thee.

Like children in the market-place

Who weary of their play,

We turn from folly’s idle race

And come to Thee today.

O Jesus, teller of the tale

That never will grow old,

Thy words of living truth prevail

Our listening hearts to hold.

Tell us of Father-love that speaks

Peace to the wandering child;

Of valiant Shepherd-love that seeks

The lost sheep in the wild;

Of deep Redeemer-love that knows

What sins we need forgiven,

And on the Magdalen bestows

The purest joy of Heaven.

Tell us of faith that’s like a sword,

And hope that’s like a star;

How great the patient soul’s reward,

How blest the loyal are.

Tell us of courage like a wall

No storm can batter down;

Tell us of men who venture all

For Thee, and win a crown.

Tell us that life is not a game,

But real and brave and true;

A journey with a glorious aim,

A quest to carry through.

Tell us that though our wills are weak

And though we children be,

The everlasting good we seek

We can attain through Thee.

Return, dear Lord, to those who look

With eager eyes that yearn

For Thee among the garden flowers;

After the dark and lonely hours,

As morning light return.

Return to those who wander far,

With lamps that dimly burn,

Along the troubled road of thought,

Where doubt and conflict come unsought,—

With inward joy return.

Return to those on whom the yoke

Of life is hard and stern;

Renew the hope within their breast,

Draw them to Thee and give them rest;

O Friend of Man, return.

Return to this war-weary world,

And help us all to learn

Thy secret of victorious life,

The love that triumphs over strife,—

O prince of Peace, return.

Jesus, we ask not now that day

When all men shall discern

Thy coming with the angelic host;

Today, to all who need Thee most,

In silent ways, return!

No form of human framing,

No bond of outward might,

Can bind Thy Church together, Lord,

And all her flocks unite;

But, Jesus, Thou hast told us

How unity must be:

Thou art with God the Father one,

And we are one in Thee.

The mind that is in Jesus

Will guide us into truth,

The humble, open, joyful mind

Of ever-learning youth;

The heart that is in Jesus

Will lead us out of strife,

The giving and forgiving heart

That follows love in life.

Wherever men adore Thee,

Our souls with them would kneel;

Wherever men implore Thy help,

Their trouble we would feel;

And where men do Thy service,

Though knowing not Thy sign,

Our hand is with them in good work,

For they are also Thine.

Forgive us, Lord, the folly

That quarrels with Thy friends,

And draw us nearer to Thy heart

Where every discord ends;

Thou art the crown of manhood,

And Thou of God the Son;

O Master of our many lives,

In Thee our life is one.

Now again the world is shaken,

Tempests break on sea and shore;

Earth with ruin overtaken,

Trembles while the storm-winds roar.

He abideth who confideth,

God is God forevermore.

Thrones are falling, heathen raging,

Peoples dreaming as of yore

Vain imaginations, waging

Man with man, unmeaning war.

He abideth who confideth,

Christ is King forevermore.

Human wisdom in confusion,

Casts away the forms it wore;

Ancient error, new illusion,

Lose the phantom fruit they bore,

He abideth who confideth,

Truth is truth forevermore.

Right eternal, Love immortal,

Built the House where we adore;

Mercy is its golden portal,

Virtue its unshaken floor.

He abideth who confideth,

God is God forevermore.

Thy victory is in the heart,

Thy kingdom is within;

When outward pride and pomp depart,

Thy glory doth begin.

Thine army, ever in the field,

Is led by love and light;

Thy followers fall but never yield,

Triumphant in the right.

O King most meek and wonderful,

Grant us among Thy host,

To follow Thee, to fight for Thee,

Knights of the Holy Ghost.

Jesus, Thou divine Companion,

By Thy lowly human birth

Thou hast come to join the workers,

Burden-bearers of the earth.

Thou, the Carpenter of Naz’reth,

Toiling for Thy daily food,

By Thy patience and Thy courage,

Thou hast taught us toil is good.

They who tread the path of labor

Follow where Thy feet have trod;

They who work without complaining

Do the holy will of God.

Thou, the peace that passeth knowledge,

Dwellest in the daily strife;

Thou, the Bread of heaven, art broken

In the sacrament of life.

Every task, however simple,

Sets the soul that does it free;

Every deed of love and kindness

Done to man is done to Thee.

Jesus, Thou divine Companion,

Help us all to work our best;

Bless us in our daily labor,

Lead us to our Sabbath rest.

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,

God of glory, Lord of love;

Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee,

Praising Thee their sun above.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;

Drive the dark of doubt away;

Giver of immortal gladness,

Fill us with the light of day!

All Thy works with joy surround Thee,

Earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,

Stars and angels sing around Thee,

Centre of unbroken praise:

Field and forest, vale and mountain,

Blooming meadow, billowing sea,

Chanting bird and flowing fountain,

Call us to rejoice in Thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving,

Ever blessing, ever blest,

Well-spring of the joy of living,

Ocean-depth of happy rest.

Thou our Father, Christ our Brother,—

All who live in love are Thine:

Teach us how to love each other,

Lift us to the Joy Divine.

Mortals join the mighty chorus,

Which the morning stars began;

Father-love is reigning o’er us,

Brother-love binds man to man.

Ever singing march we onward,

Victors in the midst of strife;

Joyful music lifts us sunward

In the triumph song of life.

O Lord, our God, Thy mighty hand

Hath made our country free;

From all her broad and happy land

May praise arise to Thee.

Fulfil the promise of her youth,

Her liberty defend;

By law and order, love and truth,

America befriend!

The strength of every state increase

In Union’s golden chain;

Her thousand cities fill with peace,

Her million fields with grain.

The virtues of her mingled blood

In one new people blend;

By unity and brotherhood

America befriend!

O suffer not her feet to stray;

But guide her untaught might,

That she may walk in peaceful day,

And lead the world in light.

Bring down the proud, lift up the poor,

Unequal ways amend;

By justice, nation-wide and sure,

America befriend!

Through all the waiting land proclaim

Thy gospel of good-will;

And may the music of Thy name

In every bosom thrill.

O’er hill and vale, from sea to sea,

Thy holy reign extend;

By faith and hope and charity,

America befriend!