O God of Bethel, by Whose Hand

O God of Bethel, by Whose hand
Thy people still are fed,
Who through this weary pilgrimage
Hast all our fathers led.

Our vows, our prayers, we now present
Before Thy throne of grace;
God of our fathers, be the God
Of their succeeding race.

Through each perplexing path of life
Our wandering footsteps guide;
Give us each day our daily bread,
And raiment fit provide.

O spread Thy covering wings around
Till all our wanderings cease,
And at our Father’s loved abode
Our souls arrive in peace.

Such blessings from Thy gracious hand
Our humble prayers implore;
And Thou shalt be our chosen God,
And portion evermore.

Author: Philip Doddridge

Year: 1736

This is a well-known paraphrase of Genesis 28:20-22 by English Nonconformist minister and hymn writer Philip Doddridge. It was first published posthumously in 1755, though written around 1736. Some later hymnals attribute it jointly to Doddridge and John Logan due to minor revisions in the 1781 Scottish Paraphrases, but the original text is Doddridge's.