Church Book ‎#212

212. 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 When vexing thoughts within me rise,
And sore dismayed, my spirit dies,
Still He, who once vouchsafed to bear
The sickening anguish of 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, seest 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 painful bed, 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
• Author: Sir Robert Grant (1806)
• Meter: L. M.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1890
• Topic: Eternal Priesthood of Christ; Lent, First Sunday; Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity
• Notes: Alternate tune: #373

Tune Information

• Name: WER NUR DEN LIEBEN GOTT LÄSZT WALTEN
• Meter: L. M.
• Key: a♭ minor
• Notes: Composer from index: Geo. Neumark, 1657