1 Father eternal, Ruler of creation,
Spirit of life, by whom all things are made,
through the thick darkness covering every nation,
light to our blindness, come now to our aid!
[Refrain:]
Your kingdom come, O Lord, your will be done.
2 Races and peoples, still we stand divided,
and, sharing not our griefs, no joy can share;
by wars and tumults love is mocked, derided,
his conquering cross no kingdom wills to bear; [Refrain]
3 Envious of heart, blind-eyed, with tongues confounded,
nation by nation still goes unforgiven;
in wrath and fear, by jealousies surrounded,
building proud towers which shall not reach to heaven. [Refrain]
4 Lust of possession causes desolations;
meekness is honoured nowhere on the earth.
Led by no star, the rulers of the nations
still fail to bring us to the blissful birth. [Refrain]
5 How shall we love you, holy hidden Being,
if we love not the world which you have made?
Oh, give us purer love, for better seeing
your Word made flesh and in a manger laid. [Refrain]
Source: Church Hymnary, Fourth Edition #261
