I once was sad and lone­ly,
No hope my heart could see;
I thought that I was friend­less,
That no one cared for me;
But clouds away were driv­en,
No more my heart des­pairs,
For I, His cross be­hold­ing,
Have found that Je­sus cares.

Refrain

Whate’er may go, this do I know,
My Lord abides for aye;
He cares for me, He bears for me,
The bur­dens of the day.

Before me still are tri­als,
Yet I need have no fear,
Since Je­sus, friend un­fail­ing,
To me is ev­er near;
With joy my heart is sing­ing,
As on my way I fare,
To know I’m not for­got­ten,
To know my Lord doth care.

Refrain

It mat­ters not how drea­ry
May be the path you tread,
This friend can take your sor­row
And give you joy in­stead;
Oh, bring your sins to Je­sus,
Your bur­dens and your cares,
And learn how great His kind­ness,
How much the Sav­ior cares.

Refrain