O thou, in whose presence

1.
O thou, in whose presence my soul takes delight,
on whom in affliction I call,
my comfort by day, and my song in the night,
my hope, my salvation, my all;
where dost thou, dear Shepherd, resort with thy sheep?  
to feed in the pastures of love?
Say, why in the valley of death should I weep,
or lone in the wilderness rove?

2.
Oh, why should I wander an alien from thee,
or cry in the desert for bread?
Thy foes will rejoice when my sorrows they see,
and smile at the tears I have shed.  
He looks, and ten thousands of angels rejoice,
and myriads wait for his word.  
He speaks, and eternity, filled with his voice,
reechoes the praise of the Lord.

Words:  Joseph Swain, Redemption, A Poem in Five Books, 1791
   Tune:  Christian Lyre, 1831, harmonized by J. Harold Moyer, 1965
                    Harmonization ©1969 Faith & Life Press/Mennonite Publishing House

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