O Breath of God, I need Thee so;
Apart from Thee I cannot live.
I seek no other life to know,
But that alone which Thou canst give.
In me no goodly thing I find,
I sink in utter helplessness.
By Thee I live, O Breath Divine
So full of life and blessedness.

I need Thee in the early dawn
When eastern skies are bathed in light,
To teach me how to worship Thee,
And clothe my spirit with Thy might.
I dare not venture forth alone,
For Thou must quicken by Thy power.
I wait beneath Thy holy touch
I need Thee so in morning hour.

I need Thee through the busy day,
So fraught with service, joys and strife.
I only have these fleeting hours,
A single day in all my life.
When burdens press and strength is faint,
When shadows come and shadows go,
O breathe upon my weary heart,
For then it is I need Thee so.

I need Thee in the eventide,
When purple shadows drape the skies
And twilight’s holy hush comes in
To rest me while the daylight dies.
Then like a benediction sweet
In gentle metre soft and low
O, let me feel Thee, Breath of God,
I need Thee so, I need Thee so.

And if the embers of my love
Should smolder in the ashes gray,
And only in my memory
Should burn the love of yesterday,
Come, Holy Breath, and breathe once more
Upon this fainting heart of mine,
Until it bursts into a flame
To burn for Thee with love divine.