Evangelical Lutheran hymnal ‎#215b

215b. Prayer is the soul's sincere desire

1 Prayer is the soul's sincere desire,
Uttered or unexpressed,
The motion of a hidden fire
That trembles in the breast.

2 Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear,
The upward glancing of an eye,
When none but God is near.

3 Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant lips can try;
Prayer the sublimest strains that reach
The Majesty on high.

4 Prayer is the Christians' vital breath,
The Christians' native air;
His watch-word at the gate of death--
He enters heaven with prayer.

5 Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice
Returning from his ways,
While angels in their songs rejoice,
And say, "Behold, he prays."

Text Information

• First Line: Prayer is the soul's sincere desire
• Author: James Montgomery (1818)
• Meter: C. M. No. 2
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1908
• Topic: The Catechism: Prayer; Fifth Sunday after Easter; Eleventh Sunday after Trinity

Tune Information

• Name: MERTON
• Composer: James P. Jewson
• Meter: C. M. No. 2
• Key: E♭ Major