Scripture Verse

The vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come. Habakkuk 2:3

Introduction

portrait
Horatius Bonar (1808–1889)

Words: Ho­ra­ti­us Bo­nar, in the Quar­ter­ly Jour­nal of Pro­phe­cy, Vol­ume 24, June 1872, page 208, alt.

Music: Al­leyne J. T. Nick­ens, 1910 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

If you know Nick­ens’ full name, or where to get a good pho­to of him (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

It tar­ries long, and seems to say,
God hath for­got­ten me.
Yet shall it come, and when it comes,
Good shall the an­swer be.

It seem­eth sad so long to watch,
Thus tossed on stor­my sea;
But day shall break, and when it comes,
Good shall the an­swer be.

So tired of sin and strife, the soul
Cries out in vain to Thee;
Yet not in vain; de­liv­er­ance comes;
Good shall the an­swer be.

The night is long, the sky is dark,
In fear we bow the knee,
We plead for light; it comes at last—
Good shall the an­swer be.

The bat­tle goes against us, yet,
We fight and will not flee;
Help, Lord! He hears: and when it comes
Good shall the an­swer be.

How long! the wi­dowed Church thus pleads
In hours of ago­ny.
But not in vain; her cry is heard;
Good shall the an­swer be.

How long! Cre­ation cries in bonds,
Still long­ing to be free!
The groan is heard; and when it comes,
Good shall the an­swer be.