The word of God, like seed, is sown
Upon the waiting land,
And life-renewing water flows
From God's attentive hand;
His word can never fruitless be;
His purpose will succeed;
For grace abundant will fulfil
The deepest human need.

Whatever pains we now endure
Can never be compared
With all the glory yet to come,
By Providence prepared,
The Spirit joins with us to share
The groaning of the earth,
Which, by the grace of God, will be
The pains of joyful birth.

The seed of life is freely spent
On good and barren ground,
And, in the plenitude of grace,
The harvest will abound,
In justice and in liberty,
The Lord will show his face,
Revealing his abundant love
To all the human race.