The Song Book of the Salvation Army ‎#318

318. How tasteless and tedious the hours

1 How tasteless and tedious the hours
When Jesus no longer I see;
Sweet prospects, sweet birds and sweet flowers
Have lost all their sweetness to me.
The midsummer sunshines but dim,
The fields strive in vain to look gay;
But when I am happy in him
December’s as pleasant as May.

2 His name yields the richest perfume,
And sweeter than music his voice;
His presence disperses my gloom
And makes all within me rejoice.
I should, were he always thus nigh,
Have nothing to wish or to fear;
No mortal so happy as I,
My summer would last all the year.

3 Content with beholding his face,
My all to his pleasure resigned,
No changes of season or place
Could make any change in my mind.
While blessèd with a sense of his love,
A palace a toy would appear;
And prisons would palaces prove
If Jesus would dwell with me there.

4 Dear Lord, if indeed I am thine,
If thou art my sun and my song,
Say why do I languish and pine,
And why are my winters so long?
O drive these dark clouds from my sky!
Thy soul-cheering presence restore,
Or take me to thee up on high
Where winters and clouds are no more.

Text Information

• First Line: How tasteless and tedious the hours
• Author: John Newton (1725-1807)
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1986
• Topic: The gospel: Witness

Tune Information

(No tune information)