He will be our guide even to the end.
Psalm 48:14
Words: Robert Dawson (1836–1906).
Music: St. Fulbert Henry J. Gauntlett, 1849 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Dawson (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Eternal Father! who can tell
The years of Thy right hand?
Like sunbeams bright, but numberless,
Or as the ocean’s sand.
Thine ageless age no limit knows,
No dawn began Thy day,
Nor evening shade shall ever fall
Upon Thy glorious way.
All time is but a fleeting wave
Upon Thy calm, deep sea,
A fading leaf that feebly falls
From life’s eternal tree.
Yet unto Thee, our fleeting years,
Our fading days, are known,
And every hour its message bears
Up to th’eternal throne.
Old year, farewell! Thou’rt gone to God,
Gone to record our life,
Its poor success, its wasted hours,
Its oft unworthy strife.
New year, all hail! Thou’rt come from God,
Blest be thy dawning bright!
Blest be thy swiftly fleeting hours!
And blest thy evening light!
Into the hand of Him who died,
Who evermore doth live,
This strange and solemn New Year’s path
In trustful prayer we give.
Enough for us to hear His voice,
To feel His guiding hand,
To know each step is bringing us
Nearer the better land.