1 Lord! what a wretched land is this That yields us no supply! No cheering fruits no wholesome trees, Nor streams of living joy!
2 But pricking thorns thro' all the ground And mortal poisons grow, And all the rivers that are found With dangerous waters flow.
3 Yet the clear path to thine abode Lies thro' this horrid land; Lord! we would keep the heavenly road, And run at thy command.
4 [Our souls shall tread the desert thro' With undiverted feet; And faith and flaming zeal subdue The terrors that we meet.]
5 [A thousand savage beasts of prey Around the forest roam; But Judah's lion guards the way, And guides the strangers home.]
6 [Long nights and darkness dwell below, With scarce a twinkling ray; But the bright world to which we go Is everlasting day.]
7 [By glimmering hopes and gloomy fears We trace the sacred road, Thro' dismal deeps and dangerous snares We make our way to God.]
8 Our journey is a thorny maze, But we march upward still; Forget these troubles of the ways, And reach at Zion's hill.
9 [See the kind angels at the gates, Inviting us to come; There Jesus the fore-runner waits To welcome travellers home.]
10 There on a green and flowery mount Our weary souls shall sit, And with transporting joys recount The labours of our feet.
11 [No vain discourse shall fill our tongue, Nor trifles vex our ear, Infinite grace shall be our song, And God rejoice to hear.]
12 Eternal glories to the King That brought us safely thro'; Our tongues shall never cease to sing, And endless praise renew.