Hushed Was The Evening Hymn

Hushed was the evening hymn, The temple courts were dark, The lamp was burning dim Before the sacred ark: When suddenly a voice divine Rang through the silence of the shrine.

The old man, meek and mild, The priest of Israel slept; His watch the temple child, The little Levite, kept; And what from Eli's sense was sealed the Lord to Hannah's son revealed.

O give me Samuel's ear! The open ear, O Lord; Alive and quick to hear Each whisper of thy word; Like him to answer at Thy call, And to obey thee first of all.

O give me Samuel's heart! A lowly heart that waits Where in thy house Thou art, Or watches at Thy gates, By day and night, a heart that still Moves at the breathing of Thy will.

O give me Samuel's mind! A sweet unmurmuring faith, Obedient and resigned To Thee in life and death; That I may read with child-like eyes Truths that are hidden from the wise.