Biblical citations in the hymnal: Matthew 6:9-13, Romans 8:26-27, Hebrews 4:14-16, Psalm 141:1-2
Matthew 6:9-13: "9 'Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.'"
Romans 8:26-27: "26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."
Hebrews 4:14-16: "14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Psalm 141:1-2: "1 O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! 2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!"
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Each verse of the hymn corresponds to one of the cited passages. Matthew 6:9-13 is alluded to in the first verse ("Hear us, Father, when we pray..."); Romans 8:26-27 is paraphrased in the second verse ("When we know not what to say... May Your Spirit... Groan within us interceding; / By His sighs, too deep for words"); Hebrews 4:14-16 is the basis for the third verse ("Jesus, advocate on high... Through Your priestly blood we cry; / Hear our prayers... Place them on Your Father's throne"); and Psalm 141:1-2 appears in the fourth verse ("By Your Spirit now attend / To our prayers and supplications, / As like incense they ascend").
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"Night and day" in the second verse ("May Your Spirit, night and day, / Groan within us interceding") is a temporal merism.
