Christ My Song - 1290
In this world of sorrow
(Thomas Kelly/Johannes Thomas Rüegg)
In this world of sorrow.
"Thou knowest not what a day may bring forth."
(Proverbs 27,1)
1. In this world of sorrow,
who can tell today,
what will be tomorrow?
Here we lose our way.
when we try to know it,
all is dark as night;
he alone can shew it,
who himself is light. PDF - Midi
2. Of the future he can
tell the whole before;
of the present we can
speak, but nothing more.
Yet of what to come is,
much the Lord has told;
and his word of promise
cheered his saints of old.
3. Looking to a season
distant yet, they smiled;
cheered, not without reason:
for a wondrous child
promised was, who should be
to the world its light;
what more blessed could be?
day 'twas, after night.
4. Still the Lord discloses
much of things to come,
and in mercy shews us
of our future home;
but for this we should be
"cleaving to the dust".
So with us it would be,
so it would, and must.
5. 'Tis the hope of what will
be, when time is past,
keeps us now, and that will
keep us to the last.
That it is that charms us,
from a world of sense,
that for conflict arms us,
else without defence.
6. 'Tis the hope of being
with the Lord above;
'tis the hope of seeing
him we trust and love:
this it is that gives us
courage for the fight,
and, when faint, relieves us,
else we "have no might".
7. What, then, though we know not
what tomorrow brings?
Better that we do not,
these are "secret things".
Is it not enough for
those who know the Lord?
Should they have to suffer,
he will strength afford.
8. He will give tomorrow,
what tomorrow needs;
then away with sorrow,
wise are all his deeds.
Has he ever failed us,
in the time of need?
When the foe assailed us,
then our "sun and shield".
Thomas Kelly, Hymns on various passages of Scripture, ca. 1853, Hymn 736.