O Saviour, bless us ere we go

O Saviour, bless us ere we go;
Thy Word into our minds instill;
And make our lukewarm hearts to glow
With lowly love and fervent will.
Through life's long day, and death's dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our Light.

The day is done, its hours have run,
And Thou hast taken count of all,
The scanty triumphs grace hath won,
The broken vow, the frequent fall.
Through life's long day, and death's dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our Light.

Grant us, O Lord, from evil ways
True absolution and release;
And bless us more than in past days
With purity and inward peace.
Through life's long day, and death’s dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our Light.

Do more than pardon:  give us joy,
Sweet fear and sober liberty,
And loving hearts without alloy,
That only long to be like Thee.
Through life’s long day, and death’s dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our Light.

Labor is sweet for Thou hast toiled;
And care is light for Thou hast cared;
Ah, never let our works be soiled
With self, or by deceit ensnared.
Through life’s long day, and death’s dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our Light.

For all we love, the poor, the sad,
The sinful, unto Thee we call;
O let Thy mercy make us glad;
Thou art our Jesus and our All.
Through life's long day, and death's dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our Light.
          Frederick William Faber