As of old when the hosts of Is­ra­el
Were com­pelled in the wil­der­ness to dwell,
Trusting they in their God to lead the way
To the light of per­fect day.

Refrain

So the sign of the fire by night,
And the sign of the cloud by day,
Hovering o’er, just be­fore,
As they jour­ney on their way,
Shall a guide and a lead­er be,
Till the wil­der­ness be past.
For the Lord our God in His own good time,
Shall lead to the light at last.

To and fro as a ship with­out a sail,
Not a com­pass to guide them thro’ the vale,
But the sign of their God was ev­er near,
Thus their faint­ing hearts to cheer.

Refrain

All the days of their wan­d’rings they were fed,
To the land of the pro­mise they were led,
By the hand of the Lord in guid­ance sure,
They were brought to Ca­naan’s shore.

Refrain