SINCE LONG AGO AT BETHANY
1. Since long ago
at Bethany we parted,
Within my heart
there is a ceaseless void;
How can I take my
harp down from the willow?
How can my songs
without Thee be enjoyed?
And when at night I'm
keeping lonely vigil -
Grown numb alike to
sorrow and to cheer -
Then I recall the
promise of Thy coming,
But sigh: O Lord,
why, why Thou dost not yet appear?
2. Thy manger wakes
the thought: I too am homeless;
Thy cross strips
earthly pleasures from my soul;
Thy coming bids me
seek a better country,
For Thou Thyself
art now my final goal.
Since Thou art
gone, my joy has lost its flavor;
My song the
sweetness I would fain convey.
Since Thou art
gone, the sense of void o'erwhelms me.
Oh, how I long that
Thou wilt come and not delay.
3. Though even now
I know Thy loving presence,
Yet in my heart
there's still a sense of lack.
Enlightening and
tenderest sustaining
Can no more
satisfy: I want Thee back.
Despite Thy peace
within, I still feel lonely;
Despite Thy joy,
there still remains a sigh;
When I feel most
content, the silent yearning
To see Thee face to
face becomes an uttered cry.
4. What exile
cannot but desire his homeland
And long his people
once again to greet?
What soul on alien soil
forgets his kindred?
What parted lovers
never yearn to meet?
O Lord, how can
these earthly loves and pleasures
With all the joy of
Thy return compare?
Then, if I cannot
here behold Thy countenance,
What can I do but
sigh till Thou, my Lord, appear?
5. Could'st Thou, O
Lord, forget Thy word of promise
Soon to return and
take me unto Thee?
Yet day by day and
year by year I've waited,
And still I wait,
and no return I see!
Remember, Lord, the
years I have been waiting
While Thy dear
footsteps linger far away.
How long? How long?
Oh! must I wait still longer
Till Thou shalt
come again in glorious array?
6. From generation
unto generation
Thy saints have
come and gone, but have not seen
Thy glorious
promise pass into fulfilment.
How long, how very
long the time has been!
Why cannot we, dear
Lord, discern Thy footsteps?
Why are the heavens
still so closely sealed?
Oh! must our
waiting be prolonged still further
Before Thou in Thy
matchless splendor art revealed?
7. Lord, I recall
the many years I've waited
For Thy return -
yet, Lord, not I alone,
But Thy dear saints
through many generations -
Beseeching Thee to
come back for Thine own.
To countless tears
and countless fervent pleadings,
By Thine appearing
haste to make reply.
Oh, may Thou come,
the echo of the ages,
Come, come and
answer now this mighty corp'rate cry!
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