Scripture Verse

You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32

Introduction

Words & Mu­sic: Hal­dor Lil­le­nas, 1915 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Haldor Lillenas (1885–1959)

Lyrics

Dusky hands are reach­ing for the bread of life
Far across the roll­ing sea;
Shall they per­ish in their mi­se­ry and strife,
Shall they al­ways hun­gry be?

Refrain

Send the Gos­pel tid­ings ov­er land and sea,
Let the hun­gry souls be sa­tis­fied,
Till the pow’r of Je­sus sets the cap­tives free,
O lead them to the Mas­ter’s side.

Dusky hands are bound in chains of want and woe
In the far off hea­then lands;
Shall we not in haste un­to their bor­ders go,
Set them free, as God com­mands?

Refrain

We can­not be idle any long­er now,
While the souls in dark­ness die;
Gather them as jew­els for the Sav­ior’s brow,
While the days are pass­ing by.

Refrain

Dusky faces look to us for hope and peace,
Shall they look to us in vain?
Jesus can re­deem them, cause their sighs to cease,
Rend their chains of sin in twain.

Refrain