Grace Before Meat Poem by Rees Prichard

Thou, by whom erst five thousand folks were fed
With two small fishes and five loaves of bread,
Fill us, thy humble servants, with such food,
As shall to thy wise providence seem good!

Bless thou besides the liquor and the meat,
Which thou hast given us to drink and eat,
As thou didst bless the paschal lamb of yore,
And the two fishes, by thy wond'rous pow'r ;

And give them strength our beings to preserve,
That we thy Godhead may adore and serve -
Such strength, as of thy special favour, Lord!
Thou erst didst to Elijah's cake afford.

And cause them to refresh this mortal frame,
To hearten, and to satisfy the same
With nourishment as good, as that low fare
Which thou for Daniel didst of old prepare.

Permit us not, however rare or nice,
To take a morsel more than will suffice -
But just as much as may support this frame,
And make us fit to glorify thy name.

But cause us to resound thy praises still,
Who with thy goodness dost our bellies fill -
And make us own, that 'tis the God of might,
Who feeds us ev'ry morning, noon, and night!