When my way is hedged about me, hedged with thorns of care;
When the cross I loved so dear­ly, seems too hard to bear;
When my heart is bowed with sor­row, and no light I see—
Lord, Thy ten­der mer­cy plead­ing, let me lean on Thee.

O, for faith to cast be­hind me ev­ery sad com­plaint—
Faith to run and not be wea­ry, walk and ne­ver faint;
Thou dost know and feel my weak­ness, Sav­ior look on me;
Now Thy ten­der mer­cy plead­ing, let me lean on Thee.

Closer let Thine arms en­fold me, clos­er to Thy breast
Draw my wea­ry, trem­bling spi­rit, calm its doubts to rest;
Give me strength for ev­ery bur­den Thou hast borne for me;
Lord, Thy ten­der mer­cy plead­ing, let me lean on Thee.