Hail to the opening year

1 Hail to the op'ning year!
Hail to the newborn time!
Lord, to thy waiting ear
We raise our cheerful hymn.
To thee we sing, to thee we pray,
O God, who giv'st each year, each day.
To thee we sing, to thee, we pray,
O God, who giv'st each year, each day.

2 Hail to the op'ning year!
The precious gift we own,
With man a sorrowing tear,
For misspent seasons flown.
Our wasted years, O God, forgive.
And teach us better how to live.
Our wasted years, O God, forgive.
And teach us better how to live.

3 Hail to the op'ning year!
We greet its natal morn,
With promises and hopes,
And high resolves upborne.
Lord, we would spend this year to thee,
In works of love and purity.
Lord, we would spend this year to thee,
In works of love and purity.

4 God of the opening year!
God of each passing day!
O, hear our youthful prayer,
And grant us grace alway,
To shun the paths of vice and sin,
And heav'n's blest life on earth begin.

Source: The Silver Chime: a cluster of Sabbath school melodies, tunes, sentences, chants, etc., for the use of children and teachers in their school exercises, devotions, and recreations, to which is added... #83