Who of us death's awful road
In the coming year shall tread?
With thy rod and staff, O God,
Comfort Thou his dying head.

Keep us faithful, keep us pure
Keep us evermore thine own;
Help, O help us to endure;
Fit us for the promised crown.

So within thy palace gate

We shall praise, on golden strings, Thee, the only Potentate,

Lord of lords, and King of kings!

II.

HARP, awake! tell out the story
Of our love and joy and praise;
Lute, awake! awake our glory!
Join a thankful song to raise :
Join we, brethren faithful-hearted,
Lift the solemn voice again
O'er another year departed

Of our threescore years and ten !

Lo! a theme for deepest sadness, In ourselves with sin defiled; Lo! a theme for holiest gladness, In our Father reconciled :

In the dust we bend before Thee, Lord of sinless hosts above; Yet in lowliest joy adore Thee,

God of mercy, grace, and love!

Gracious Saviour! Thou hast lengthened And hast blest our mortal span,

And in our weak hearts hast strengthened
What thy grace alone began:

Still, when danger shall betide us,
Be thy warning whisper heard;
Keep us at thy feet, and guide us
By thy Spirit and thy Word.

Let thy favour and thy blessing
Crown the year we now begin;
Let us all, thy strength possessing,
Grow in grace, and vanquish sin :
Storms are round us, hearts are quailing,
Signs in heaven and earth and sea;
But, when heaven and earth are failing,
Saviour, we will trust in Thee!

III.

ANOTHER year, another year,

Hath sped its flight on silent wing, And all that marked its brief career Hath passed from mortal reckoning.

But graven as with iron pen,

All-seeing God, thy records stand, All thoughts, and words, and deeds of men, Unnumbered as the ocean sand.

For all thy grace, and patient love,
Unwearied still, and still the same,

For all our hopes of joys above,

We laud and bless thy holy Name.

We bless Thee for each happy soul
Throughout another fleeting year,

Or by thy quickening grace made whole,
Or parted in thy faith and fear.

Still bear with us, and bless us still,

And long as in this world we stay, Oh let us love thy perfect will,

And keep the true and living way.

So, when the rolling stream of time
Hath opened to a boundless sea,
Loud shall we raise that song sublime—

All honour, glory, praise to Thee !