You help make Hymnary.org possible. More than 10 million people from 200+ countries found hymns, liturgical resources and encouragement on Hymnary.org in 2025, including you. Every visit affirms the global impact of this ministry.

If Hymnary has been meaningful to you this year, would you take a moment today to help sustain it? A gift of any size—paired with a note of encouragement if you wish—directly supports the server costs, research work and curation that keep this resource freely available to the world.

Give securely online today, or mail a check to:
Hymnary.org
Calvin University
3201 Burton Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Thank you for your partnership, and may the hope of Advent fill your heart.

83. Hail to the Opening Year!

1 Hail to the op'ning year!
Hail to the newborn time!
Lord, to thy waiting ear
We raise our cheerful hymn.
To thee we sing, to thee we pray,
O God, who giv'st each year, each day.
To thee we sing, to thee, we pray,
O God, who giv'st each year, each day.

2 Hail to the op'ning year!
The precious gift we own,
With man a sorrowing tear,
For misspent seasons flown.
Our wasted years, O God, forgive.
And teach us better how to live.
Our wasted years, O God, forgive.
And teach us better how to live.

3 Hail to the op'ning year!
We greet its natal morn,
With promises and hopes,
And high resolves upborne.
Lord, we would spend this year to thee,
In works of love and purity.
Lord, we would spend this year to thee,
In works of love and purity.

4 God of the opening year!
God of each passing day!
O, hear our youthful prayer,
And grant us grace alway,
To shun the paths of vice and sin,
And heav'n's blest life on earth begin.

Text Information
First Line: Hail to the op'ning year!
Title: Hail to the Opening Year!
Author: Mrs. H. E. Brown
Publication Date: 1862
Notes: Public Domain.
Tune Information
Name: [Hail to the op'ning year!]
Composer: J. L. Ensign
Key: F Major or modal
Notes: Public Domain.



Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.