1 Master, speak! Thy servant heareth,
waiting for thy gracious word,
longing for thy voice that cheereth;
Master, let it now be heard.
I am listening, Lord, for thee;
what hast thou to say to me?
2 Speak to me by name, O Master!
let me know it is to me;
speak, that I may follow faster,
with a step more firm and free,
where the shepherd leads the flock
in the shadow of the rock.
3 Master, speak! Though least and lowest,
let me not unheard depart;
Master, speak! For O thou knowest
all the yearning of my heart;
knowest all its truest need;
speak, and make me blest indeed.
4 Master, speak! And make me ready,
when thy voice is truly heard,
with obedience glad and steady
still to follow every word.
I am listening, Lord, for thee;
Master, speak, O speak to me!
Frances Havergal
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
I have long been a fan of Frances Havergal's hymns, but I never really looked at her biography before today. She was quite a scholar—especially for a woman in the 1800s. For example: "Miss Havergal's scholastic acquirements were extensive, embracing several modern languages, together with Greek and Hebrew."
That's more than most songwriters in today's world could say—more than most pastors, for that matter. More's the pity.
</idle musing>
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