BREAD.
Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.—Exodus, xvi. 4.
Man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.—Deuteronomy, viii. 3.
Bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.—Psalm civ. 15.
Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.—Ecclesiastes, xi. 1.
He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; he shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.—Isaiah, xxxiii. 15, 16.
Give us this day our daily bread.—Matthew, vi. 11.
The bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.—John, vi. 33.
O King of earth, and air, and sea!
The hungry ravens cry to thee;
To thee the scaly tribes that sweep
The bosom of the boundless deep.
Thy bounteous hand with food can bless
The bleak and lonely wilderness;
And thou has taught us, Lord, to pray
For daily bread from day to day.
And O, when through the wilds we roam,
That part us from our heavenly home;
When lost in danger, want, and woe,
Our faithless tears begin to flow;
Do thou thy gracious comfort give,
By which alone the soul may live;
And grant thy servants, Lord, we pray,
The bread of life, from day to day.
Heber.
Bread of Heaven! on thee I feed,
For thy flesh is meat indeed.
Ever may my soul be fed
With this true and living bread;
Day by day with strength supplied,
Through the life of Him who died.
Conder.
“Give us our daily bread,”—and was that prayer
Unanswered from high Heav’n’s eternal dome?
No, poor man, no!—its music entered there,
And blessings dropp’d upon our earthly home:
Let thy sad eye look round thee everywhere,
When the rich showers or golden sunbeams come,
And plenty greets thee from the teeming sod—
The fruit that blossoms from the hand of God?
“Give us our daily bread;” Heaven whispers, “Yes.”
“Give us our daily bread;” Earth mutters, “No,”
And mocks the weepings of her sons’ distress:
Bright hours of change are coming, sure though slow,
When pride, and want, and error shall be less,
And more of Heaven be registered below;
Even now the half of Slavery’s flag is furled,
And Thought’s free sunshine circles the wide world.
Burrington.
Kill not the flower that feeds the useful bee,
For more than beauteous is that sweet flower’s blush;
’Tis toil’s reward that sweetens industry,
As love inspires with strength th’ enraptured thrush.
To fall’n humanity our Father said,
That food and bliss should not be found unsought:
That man should labour for his daily bread;
But not that man should toil and sweat for nought.
Not that the best should live a living death,
To give the worst a beastly sense of life;
And waste in servitude their fleeting breath,
Weeping with care and want a hopeless strife.
E. Elliott.
Father in heaven! thy sacred name
In hallowed strains be sung!
Thy kingdom spread o’er all the earth;
Thy praise fill every tongue.
By happy spirits round thy throne,
As thy commands are done;
So be thy perfect will obeyed
By all beneath the sun.
Our numerous wants are known to thee,
Who canst alone supply;
O grant each day our daily bread,
Nor other good deny.
Hancox.