Psalm 139:10Your hand will lead me; Your right hand will hold on to me.
Words: Anna G. Holt, in Make His Praise Glorious, edited by Edwin O. Excell (Chicago, Illinois: E. O. Excell, 1900), number 51.
Music: Chelyabinsk Ira. O. Hoffman (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Holt or Hoffman (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
When heavy clouds o’erspread my sky
And on the path I travel by,
There falls no cheering ray of light,
And I must walk by faith, not sight,
Then, Father, hold my hand.
Tho’ heavily my burdens press,
I will not live and trust Thee less;
When steeper grows my weary way,
Help me to follow and obey,
And closer hold my hand.
Or, if sometime the sun should shine,
And brighter, happier days be mine;
If I with joy should lift my head,
And smile to find the shadows fled,
Still, Father, hold my hand.