Scripture Verse

Ye know not what shall be on the morrow. James 4:14

Introduction

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John G. Whittier 1807–1892

Words: John G. Whit­ti­er, from his poem The Eter­nal Good­ness, 1867.

Music: Cool­ing Alon­zo J. Ab­bey, 1858 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Ab­bey (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

I know not what the fu­ture hath
Of mar­vel or surprise,
Assured alone that life and death
God’s mercy un­derlies.

And if my heart and flesh are weak
To bear an un­tried pain,
The bruis­èd reed He will not break,
But strength­en and sus­tain.

No of­fer­ing of my own I have,
Nor works my faith to prove;
I can but give the gifts He gave,
And plead His love for love.

And so beside the si­lent sea
I wait the muf­fled oar;
No harm from Him can come to me
On ocean or on shore.

I know not where His is­lands lift
Their frond­ed palms in air;
I on­ly know I can­not drift
Beyond His love and care.