Rise, my soul, to watch and pray,
From thy sleep awaken;
Be not by the evil day
Unawares o’ertaken.
For the foe,
Well we know,
Oft his harvest reapeth
While the Christian sleepeth.
Watch against the devil’s snares
Lest asleep he find thee;
For indeed no pains he spares
To deceive and blind thee.
Satan’s prey
Oft are they
Who secure are sleeping
And no watch are keeping.
Watch! Let not the wicked world
With its pow’r defeat thee.
Watch lest with her pomp unfurled
She betray and cheat thee.
Watch and see
Lest there be
Faithless friends to charm thee,
Who but seek to harm thee.
Watch against thyself, my soul,
Lest with grace thou trifle;
Let not self thy thoughts control
Nor God’s mercy stifle.
Pride and sin
Lurk within
All thy hopes to scatter;
Heed not when they flatter.
But while watching, also pray
To the Lord unceasing.
He will free thee, be thy stay,
Strength and faith increasing.
O Lord, bless
In distress
And let nothing swerve me
From the will to serve thee.—Johann B. Freystein, translated by Catherine Winkworth
Other hymns, worship songs, prayers, sermons excerpts, or quotes posted today:
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