Our Lord, who knows full well,

The heart of ev’ry saint,

Invites us by a parable,

To pray and never faint.

2 He bows his gracious ear,

We never plead in vain;

Yet we must wait till he appear,

And pray, and pray again.

3 Though unbelief suggest,

Why should we longer wait?

He bids us never give him rest,

But be importunate.

4 ’Twas thus a widow poor,

Without support or friend,

Beset the unjust judge’s door,

And gain’d, at last, her end.

5 For her he little car’d,

As little for the laws;

Nor God, nor man, did he regard,

Yet he espous’d her cause.

6 She urg’d him day and night,

Would no denial take;

At length he said, “I’ll do her right,

“For my own quiet’s sake.”

7 And shall not Jesus hear

His chosen when they cry?

Yes, though he may a while forbear,

He’ll help them from on high.

8 His nature, truth, and love,

Engage him on their side;

When they are griev’d, his bowels move,

And can they be deny’d?

Then let us earnest be,

And never faint in pray’r;

He loves our importunity,

And makes our cause his care.