Words: , 1750 (Wach auf, du Geist der erst­en Zeug­en); trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by , 1855, alt.

Music: All’ Ehr’ und Lob, Kirch­en­ge­sang­buch (Strass­burg, Ger­ma­ny: 1541).


Awake, Thou Spirit, who didst fire
The watchmen of the Church’s youth,
Who faced the foe’s envenomed ire,
Who witnessed day and night Thy truth,
Whose voices loud are ringing still
And bringing hosts to know Thy will.

Lord, let our earnest prayers be heard,
The prayer Thy Son hath bid us pray;
For lo, Thy children’s hearts are stirred
In every land in this our day
To cry with fervent soul to Thee,
Oh, help us, Lord! So let it be!

Oh, haste to help ere we are lost!
Send preachers forth, in spirit strong,
Armed with Thy Word, a dauntless host,
Bold to attack the rule of wrong;
Let them the earth for Thee reclaim,
Thy heritage, to know Thy Name.

And let Thy Word have speedy course,
Through every land be glorified,
Till all the heathen know its force
And fill Thy churches far and wide.
Oh, spread the conquest of Thy Word
And let Thy kingdom come, dear Lord!