A Prayer for Wisdom

Maker supreme, of heav'n and earth, Of sea, of air, and sky; O! thou who gav'st to all things birth, Lord, hear me when I cry.

To Thee, invisible, I'll pray, Thou only righteous God; And Thee, omnipotent, obey, And fear thy dreadful rod.

Riches or life, I do not crave, Nor any transient things; The one has wings, and in the grave Are laid the proudest kings.

'Tis heav'nly wisdom I admire; 'Tis this is my request: Oh, grant, great God, this my desire, And I am fully blest:

Wisdom to worship thee aright, To understand thy will, To do my duty in thy sight, And thy commands fulfil:

That when my fleeting sands are run, And death shall set me free; When the short thread of life is spun, My soul may fly to thee:

Where I shall live eternally, And fear no end of time; But praise thy name, enthron'd on high, Thou pow'ful God divine,

Not with a weak and mortal voice, But in celestial strains; In heav'n, the centre of my joys, And end of all my pains.