O watch and pray, My soul, the way › Representative Texts

1 O watch and pray,
My soul, the way
Of safety lies before thee;
Lest thou shouldst be led astray
And the foe come o'er thee.

2 Use thou the Word
Of God, thy Lord;
All else is unavailing;
Ev'ry thought and passion guard
With this shield unfailing.

3 O make thy choice
The Spirit's voice
When He comes to remind thee;
Then shall peace thine heart rejoice,
Satan get behind thee.

4 One secret thought
With evil fraught,
Which in the heart was cherished,
Havoc of God's grace hath wrought,
And the soul hath perished.

5 Our evil mind,
To sin inclines,
Is drawn by sin around us;
If a wicked thought we mind,
Satan soon hath bound us.

6 One word from hell
Cast its foul spell
On Adam with temptation;
So by one man all men fell
Under condemnation.

7 Each soul astray
From Christ, the way,
Should keep God's people humble;
Jesus warns, "O watch and pray,
Lest ye fall and stumble."

8 Be on your guard,
Keep watch and ward,
Beware of Satan's cunning!
Watch and pray and trust your Lord
Till ye see Him coming!

Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary #516

1 O watch and pray,
My soul, the way
Of safety lies before thee;
Lest thou shouldst be led astray,
And the foe come o'er thee.

2 Use thou the word
Of God, thy Lord;
All else is unavailing;
Every thought and passion guard
With this shield unfailing.

3 O make thy choice
The Spirit's voice
When He comes to remind thee;
Then shall peace thine heart rejoice,
Satan get behind thee.

4 One secret thought
With evil fraught,
Which in the heart was cherished,
Havoc of God's grace hath wrought,
And the soul hath perished.

5 Our evil mind,
To sin inclined,
Is drawn by sin around us;
If a wicked thought we mind,
Satan soon hath bound us.

6 One word from hell
Cast its foul spell
On Adam with temptation;
So by one man all men fell
Under condemnation.

7 Each soul astray
From Christ, the way,
Should keep God's people humble;
Jesus warns, "O watch and pray,
Lest ye fall and stumble."

8 Be on your guard,
Keep watch and ward
Beware of Satan's cunning!
Watch and pray and trust your Lord
Till ye see Him coming!

The Lutheran Hymnary #430