Sunday, February 14, 2010

Abide With Me

Abide With Me
by Henry Lyte

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word;
But as Thou dwell’st with Thy disciples,
Lord,Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.

Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings,
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea—
Come, Friend of sinners, and thus bide with me.

Thou on my head in early youth didst smile;
And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee,
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

~~~
They urged Him strongly, ‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.’
Luke 24:29

3 comments:

Cheryl said...

When other helpers fail and comforts flee,Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

I know that this hymn is often considered a funeral hymn, but these words are too good not to sing more often!

Frances said...

Kati, these words are so beautiful. I'm not sure I had ever read all of them. Thank you for sharing such beautiful hymns on your blog. I love them. Do you mind if I share this hymn on my blog? I don't want to copy you without asking you first. Hugs ...

Kati said...

Miss Frances, of course you may use this hymn on your blog!