O God, That Madest Earth and Sky

O God, that madest earth and sky, the darkness and the day,
Give ear to this thy family, and help us when we pray.

O God, that madest earth and sky, the darkness and the day,
Give ear to this thy family, and help us when we pray.
For wide the waves of bitterness around our vessel roar,
And heavy grows the pilot’s heart to view the rocky shore.

The cross our master bore for us, for him we fain would bear,
But mortal strength to weakness turns, and courage to despair.
Then mercy on our failings, Lord, our sinking faith renew,
And when thy sorrows visit us, O send thy patience too.

Reginald Heber