Forty days and forty nights

Thou wast fasting in the wild;

Forty days and forty nights

Tempted, and yet undefiled.

Shall not we thy sorrow share,

And from earthly joys abstain,

Fasting with unceasing prayer,

Glad with thee to suffer pain?

And if Satan, vexing sore,

Flesh or spirit should assail,

Thou, his Vanquisher before,

Grant we may not faint nor fail.

So shall we have peace divine:

Holier gladness ours shall be;

Round us, too, shall angels shine,

Such as ministered to thee.

Keep, O keep us, Savior dear,

Ever constant by thy side;

That with thee we may appear

At the eternal Eastertide.

Amen.