1. Here through a wilderness of sorrow,
Pilgrims we roam;
Still looking for a happy morrow.
Safe in our everlasting home.
Here many foes beset our pathway.
In bold array;
And clouds and tempests round us gather.
Casting their darkness o’er the way.
Chorus 1
God of Israel! Pour thy Spirit
On thy little flock!
How shall we the promised land inherit,
Unless thou go with us, our Rock?
2. Lord how can we escape the dangers—
Caverns that yawn.
And Satan with his legion rangers,
Rushing upon us like a storm?
O guide our doubtful steps and weary,
Lest we should stray!
O, lead us through this desert dreary,
Keep and protect us in the way!
Chorus 1
3. Now while the evening shadows gather,
Dangers increase!
Be thou our sure defense, our Father,
Grant us the tokens of thy grace!
O, let thy Holy Spirit’s power
On us descend.
Distilling like the grateful shower—
O, do be with us to the end!
Chorus 1
4. O, let the cloudy pillar brighten,
On Israel’s side;
And while it doth our path enlighten,
From us our enemies divide.
And when the angry floods upheaving,
Against us roar,
Almighty power the waters cleaving,
Lead us in safety to the shore.
Chorus 2
Then with harps we’ll swell the chorus,
To the Lamb once slain!
While eternal day is beaming o’er us,
With our Deliverer to reign.
– Raymond F. Cottrell (printed in an early Advent Review magazine)
