Hymnal ‎#250

250. When gathering clouds around I view

1 When gathering clouds around I view,
And days are dark, and friends are few,
On Him I lean, Who not in vain
Experienced every human pain;
He sees my wants, allays my fears,
And counts and treasures up my tears.

2 If aught should tempt my soul to stray
From heavenly wisdom's narrow way,
To fly the good I would pursue,
Or do the sin I would not do;
Still He, Who felt temptation's power,
Shall guard me in that dangerous hour.

3 If vexing thoughts within me rise,
And, sore dismay'd, my spirit dies,
Still He, Who once vouchsafed to bear
Such bitter conflict with despair,
Shall sweetly soothe, shall gently dry,
The throbbing heart, the streaming eye.

4 When sorrowing, o'er some stone I bend,
Which covers what was once a friend,
And from his voice, his hand, his smile,
Divides me for a little while,
Thou, Saviour, mark'st the tears I shed,
For Thou didst weep o'er Lazarus dead.

5 And O, when I have safely past
Through every conflict but the last,
Still, still unchanging, watch beside
My bed of death, for Thou hast died;
Then point to realms of cloudless day,
And wipe the latest tear away.

Text Information

• First Line: When gathering clouds around I view
• Meter: 8s. six lines
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1871
• Topic: Offices of the Church: Visitation of the Sick
• Notes: Now Public Domain. first rank hymn

Tune Information

(No tune information)