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?
Master, speak in love and power:
Crown the mercies of the day,
In this quiet evening hour
Of the moonrise o’er the bay,
With the music of Thy voice;
Speak ! and bid Thy child rejoice.
Often through my heart is pealing
Many another voice than Thine,
Many an unwilled echo stealing
From the walls of this Thy shrine:
Let Thy longed-for accents fall ;
Master, speak ! and silence all.
Master, speak ! I do not doubt Thee,
Though so tearfully I plead;
Saviour, Shepherd ! oh, without Thee
Life would be a blank indeed !
But I long for fuller light,
Deeper love, and clearer sight.
Resting on the ‘ faithful saying,’
Trusting what Thy gospel saith,
On Thy written promise staying
All my hope in life and death,
Yet I long for something more
From Thy love’s exhaustless store.
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.
Master, speak ! I kneel before Thee,
Listening, longing, waiting still;
Oh, how long shall I implore Thee
This petition to fulfil !
Hast Thou not one word for me?
Must my prayer unanswered be?
Master, speak ! Though least and lowest,
Let me not unheard depart;
Master, speak ! for oh, Thou knowest
All the yearning of my heart,
Knowest all its truest need;
Speak ! and make me blest indeed.
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, oh, speak to me !