Christ My Song - 52
Long and toilsome is the road - Encouragement
(Carl Johann Philipp Spitta/Richard Massie/
Johannes Thomas Rüegg)
Encouragement.
1. Long and toilsome is the road,
difficult the track,
and beneath its heavy load
often bows our back,
yet our hearts feel no dismay;
though our strength be small,
on his strength we well may stay,
who is Lord of all. PDF - Midi
2. Jesus never will forget us;
on his word we stay,
that he will not leave, nor let us
perish on the way.
Often when our strength appears
to forsake us quite,
comfort whispers in our ears:
"He will set all right."
3. He who brought the crystal wave
from its rocky bed,
and the prophet in the cave
by the ravens fed;
he who with a little bread
thousands satisfied,
can he not for those who need
even now provide?
4. He who in his hands doth bear
this terrestrial ball,
and without whom not a hair
from our head doth fall;
who the great thinks not too great,
nor the small too small,
can he see our sad estate,
heedless of our call?
5. He who opened heaven to man,
and hath plainly shewed
by what way we may and can
reach that blessed abode;
he who to prepare a place
hath such pains bestowed,
can he let his chosen race
perish on the road?
6. No! he neither can nor will;
God is very good,
and the promise will fulfill
sealed by his own blood.
Courage, then! tho' hard your lot,
God can never lie,
lift your heads on high, fear not,
your redemption's nigh.
Richard Massie, Lyra Domestica I, 1863, 117-118.
Translated from the German Ist der Weg auch noch so lang - Ermunterung
of Carl Johann Philipp Spitta.