The Lutheran Hymnary ‎#396

396. Long did I toil, and knew no earthly rest

1 Long did I toil, and knew no earthly rest,
Far did I rove, and found no certain home;
At last I sought them in His sheltering breast,
Who opes His arms, and bids the weary come:
With Him I found a home, a rest divine,
And since then I am His, and He is mine.

2 The good I have is from His stores supplied,
The ill is only what He deems the best;
He for my Friend, I’m rich with naught beside,
And poor without Him, though of all possessed:
Changes may come, I take, or I resign,
Content, while I am His, while He is mine.

3 Whate’er may change, in Him no change is seen,
A glorious sun that wanes not nor declines,
Above the clouds and storms He walks serene,
And on His people’s inward darkness shines:
All may depart, I fret not, nor repine,
While I my Savior’s am, while He is mine.

4 While here, alas! I know but half His love,
But half discern Him, and but half adore;
But when I meet Him in the realms above,
I hope to love Him better, praise Him more,
And feel, and tell, amid the choir divine,
How fully I am His, and He is mine.

Text Information

• First Line: Long did I toil, and knew no earthly rest
• Author: H. F. Lyte (1833)
• Meter: 10s. 6L.
• Publication Date: 1913
• Topic: The Church Year: Second Sunday after Trinity; Peace and Joy

Tune Information

• Name: [Long did I toil, and knew no earthly rest]
• Composer: E. W. Bullinger, b. 1837
• Meter: 10s. 6L.