It May Not Be Our Lot to Wield

Representative Text

1 It may not be our lot to wield
The sickle in the ripened field;
Nor ours to hear, on summer eves,
The reaper's song among the sheaves.

2 Yet where our duty's task is wrought
In unison with God's great thought,
The near and future blend in one,
And whatsoe'er is willed, is done.

3 And ours the grateful service whence
Comes, day by day, the recompense;
The hope, the trust, the purpose stayed,
The fountain, and the noonday shade.

4 And were this life the utmost span,
The only end and aim of man,
Better the toil of fields like these
Than waking dream and slothful ease.

5 But life, though falling like our grain,
Like that revives and springs again;
And, early called, how blest are they
Who wait in heaven their harvest day!

AMEN.

Source: The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal: official hymnal of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church #437

Author: John Greenleaf Whittier

Whittier, John Greenleaf, the American Quaker poet, was born at Haverhill, Massachusetts, Dec. 17, 1807. He began life as a farm-boy and shoemaker, and subsequently became a successful journalist, editor and poet. In 1828 he became editor of the American Manufacturer (Boston), in 1830 of the New England Review, and an 1836 (on becoming Secretary to the American Anti-Slavery Society) of the Pennsylvania Freeman. He was also for some time, beginning with 1847, the corresponding editor of the National Era. In 1840 he removed to Amesbury, Massachusetts, where most of his later works have been written. At the present time [1890] he lives alternately at Amesbury and Boston. His first poetical piece was printed in the Newburyport Free Press in 182… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: It may not be our lot to wield
Title: It May Not Be Our Lot to Wield
Author: John Greenleaf Whittier
Meter: 8.8.8.8
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #3111
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Instances

Instances (1 - 37 of 37)
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A Selection of Spiritual Songs #802

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Hymn and Tune Book of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South (Round Note Ed.) #482

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Hymn Book of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South #482

Hymnal and Ritual Services for the Union Gospel Church #d38

Hymnal of the Evangelical Church. Word ed. #d337

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Hymnal of the Methodist Episcopal Church #602

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Hymnal of the Methodist Episcopal Church #602

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Hymns of Worship and Service #375

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Hymns of Worship and Service (15th ed.) #375

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Hymns of Worship and Service #375

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Hymns of Worship and Service #216

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Hymns of Worship and Service #216

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Laudes Domini #906

TextPage Scan

Methodist Hymn and Tune Book #363

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Our New Hymnal #145

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Songs for the Lord's House #389

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Songs for the Service of Prayer #281

Standard Church Hymns and Gospel Songs #d127

The A. M. E. Zion Hymnal #304

TextPage Scan

The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal #437

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The Academic Hymnal #101

The American Hymnal #d256

The American Hymnal for Chapel Service #d167

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The American Hymnal for Chapel Service #338

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The Chapel Hymnal #46

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The Chapel Hymnal #46

The Chapel Hymnal. 3rd ed. #d62

The Chapel Service Book #d74

The Church Hymnal #d188

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #3111

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The Emory Hymnal #323

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The Methodist Hymnal (Text only edition) #398

The Methodist Hymnal, Official Hymnal of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Methodist Episcopal Church South, Methodist Protestant Church #291

The Methodist Hymnal #291

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The Methodist Hymnal #398

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The New Laudes Domini #954

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The Woman's Hymnal #24

Exclude 35 pre-1979 instances
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