The trespass of the wicked man
Most plainly testifies
That fear of God’s most holy Name
Is not before his eyes.

He cherishes the empty hope,
Although his sin be great,
It never shall be brought to light
And viewed with righteous hate.

The words he utters with his mouth
Are wickedness and lies;
He keeps himself from doing good,
And ceases to be wise.

While on his bed his thought he gives
To planning wickedness;
He sets himself in evil ways,
He shuns not to transgress.

While men grow bold in wicked ways,
And yet a God they own,
My heart within me often says,
“Their thoughts believe there’s none.”

Their thoughts and ways at once declare,
Whate’er their lips profess,
God hath no wrath for them to fear,
Nor will they seek His grace.

What strange self-flattery blinds their eyes!
But there’s a hastening hour,
When they shall see with sore surprise
The terrors of Thy power.

Thy justice shall maintain its throne,
Though mountains melt away;
Thy judgments are a world unknown,
A deep, unfathomed sea.

Above the heav’ns’ created rounds,
Thy mercies, Lord, extend;
Thy truth outlives the narrow bounds
Where time and nature end.

Safety to man Thy goodness brings,
Nor overlooks the beast;
Beneath the shadow of Thy wings
Thy children choose to rest.

From Thee, when creature-streams run low.
And mortal comforts die,
Perpetual springs of life shall flow,
And raise our pleasures high.

Though all created light decay,
And death close up our eyes,
Thy presence makes eternal day,
Where clouds can never rise.

Thy mercy and Thy truth, O Lord,
Transcend the lofty sky;
Thy judgments are a mighty deep,
And as the mountains high.

Lord, Thou preservest man and beast;
Since Thou art ever kind;
Beneath the shadow of Thy wings
We may a refuge find.

With the abundance of Thy house
We shall be satisfied,
From rivers of unfailing joy
Our thirst shall be supplied.

The fountain of eternal life
Is found alone with Thee,
And in the brightness of Thy light
We clearly light shall see.

From those that know Thee may Thy love
And mercy ne’er depart,
And may Thy justice still protect
And bless the upright heart.

The workers of iniquity
Are fallen utterly;
They shall not triumph in their pride,
Or drive my soul from Thee.

Thy mercy, Lord, is in the heav’ns;
Thy truth doth reach the clouds;
Thy justice is like mountains great;
Thy judgments deep as floods.

Lord, Thou preservest man and beast;
How precious is Thy grace!
Therefore in shadow of Thy wings,
Men’s sons their trust shall place.

They with the fatness of Thy house
Shall be well satisfied;
From rivers of Thy pleasure Thou
Wilt drink to them provide.

Because of life the fountain pure
Remains alone with Thee;
And in that purest light of Thine
We clearly light shall see.

High in the heav’ns, eternal God,
Thy goodness in full glory shines;
Thy truth shall break through every cloud
That veils and darkens Thy designs.

Forever firm Thy justice stands,
As mountains their foundations keep;
Wise are the wonders of Thy hands;
Thy judgments are a mighty deep.

Thy providence is kind and large
Both man and beast Thy bounty share;
The whole creation is Thy charge,
But saints are Thy peculiar care.

My God, how excellent Thy grace,
Whence all our hope and comfort spring!
The sons of Adam in distress
Fly to the shadow of Thy wing.

From the provisions of Thy house
We shall be fed with sweet repast;
There mercy like a river flows,
And brings salvation to our taste.

Life, like a fountain, rich and free,
Springs from the presence of the Lord;
And in Thy light our souls shall see
The glories promised in Thy Word.

Brood o’er us with Thy sheltering wing,
’Neath which our spirits blend
Like brother birds, that soar and sing,
And on the same branch bend.
The arrow that doth wound the dove
Darts not from those who watch and love.

If thou the bending reed would break
By thought or word unkind,
Pray that His Spirit you partake,
Who loved and healed mankind:
Seek holy thoughts and heavenly strain,
That make men one in love remain.

Learn, too, that wisdom’s rod is given
For faith to kiss, and know;
That greetings glorious from high heaven,
Whence joys supernal flow,
Come from that Love, divinely near,
Which chastens pride and earthborn fear.

Through God, who gave that word of might
Which swelled creation’s lay:
“Let there be light, and there was light.”
What chased the clouds away?
’Twas Love whose finger traced aloud
A bow of promise on the cloud.

Thou to whose power our hope we give,
Free us from human strife.
Fed by Thy love divine we live,
For Love alone is life;
And life most sweet, as heart to heart
Speaks kindly when we meet and part.

After the lifepaths we’re treading
End upon time’s solemn shore,
There will be light at the river
While the redeemed ones pass o’er.

Refrain

There will be light at the river,
There will be light at the river,
There will be light at the river,
While the redeemed ones pass o’er.

There will be light for the spirits
Who thro’ deep shadows have come—
Fadeless light shining glad welcome
Out from the windows of home.

Refrain

There will be light for the weary
Who thro’ sore trials have passed—
Radiant light as they enter,
Peace that for ever shall last.

Refrain

There will be light for the faithful,
Whate’er the way they have trod—
Glorious light sent to guide them
Safe to the city of God.

Refrain

Come with thy sins to the fountain,
Come with thy burden of grief;
Bury them deep in its waters,
There thou wilt find a relief.

Refrain

Haste thee away, why wilt thou stay?
Risk not thy soul on a moment’s delay;
Jesus is waiting to save thee,
Mercy is pleading today.

Come as thou art to the fountain,
Jesus is waiting for thee;
What though thy sins are like crimson,
White as the snow they shall be.

Refrain

These are the words of the Savior;
They who repent and believe,
They who are willing to trust Him,
Life at His hand shall receive.

Refrain

Come and be healed at the fountain,
List to the peace speaking voice;
Over a sinner returning
Now let the angels rejoice.

Refrain

Morn of morns, and day of days!
Beauteous were thy newborn rays:
Brighter yet from death’s dark prison
Christ, the Light of lights, is risen.

He commanded, and His Word
Death and the dread chaos heard;
Oh, shall we, more deaf than they,
In the chains of darkness stay?

Nature yet in shadow lies;
Let the sons of light arise,
And present the morning rays
With sweet canticles of praise.

While the dead world sleeps around,
Let the sacred temples sound
Law, and prophet, and blest psalm
Lit with holy light so calm.

Unto hearts in slumber weak
Let the heavenly trumpet speak;
And a newer walk express
Their new life to righteousness.

Grant us this, and with us be,
O Thou Fount of charity,
Thou Who dost the Spirit give,
Bidding the dead letter live.

Glory to the Father, Son,
And to Thee, O Holy One,
By Whose quickening breath divine
Our dull spirits turn and shine.

Thou art, O God, the Life and Light
Of all this wondrous world we see;
Its glow by day, its smile by night,
Are but reflections caught from Thee;
Where’er we turn, Thy glories shine,
And all things fair and bright are Thine.

When day, with farewell beam, delays
Among the opening clouds of even,
And we can almost think we gaze
Through golden vistas into Heaven,
Those hues, that make the sun’s decline
So soft, so radiant, Lord, are Thine.

When night with wings of starry gloom
O’ershadows all the earth and skies,
Like some dark beauteous bird whose plume
Is sparkling with unnumbered eyes—
That sacred gloom, those fires divine,
So grand, so countless, Lord, are Thine.

When youthful spring around us breathes,
Thy Spirit warms her fragrant sigh,
And every flower the summer wreathes
Is born beneath that kindling eye—
Where’er we turn, Thy glories shine,
And all things fair and bright are Thine.