The way is dark with low­er­ing clouds o’er­head,
And threat­en­ing dan­gers lie on ei­ther side.
The pre­sent step alone I see to tread;
O Light of life, be Thou my con­stant guide.

I am not wise, and know not what to do,
Nor how to toil ac­cept­ab­ly for Thee;
While will­ing learn­ers of Thy work are few,
O Thou om­nis­ci­ent One, my teach­er be.

The time is short, so much re­mains to do,
So much is lost by those who miss the way.
Since I may wan­der from the high­way, too,
Guide my im­per­iled soul through time’s short day.

One way alone I know leads home to Thee,
While wan­der­ing paths di­verge from ei­ther side.
I would not miss the bliss­ful com­pa­ny,
And wel­come of the crowned and glo­ri­fied.

O Is­ra­el’s God and mine amid the night,
The ig­nor­ance that mars my work for Thee.
In time’s short day along the way of light,
Be Thou my guide unto eter­ni­ty.