Introduction
1837–1905
Words: Mary G. Brainard, in The Congregationalist, 1869. Arranged by Philip Bliss in Gospel Hymns No. 3, circa 1876.
Music: Philip P. Bliss (🔊 pdf nwc).
1838–1876
He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
Job 23:10
Words: Mary G. Brainard, in The Congregationalist, 1869. Arranged by Philip Bliss in Gospel Hymns No. 3, circa 1876.
Music: Philip P. Bliss (🔊 pdf nwc).
Mr. Bliss lost his life in the terrible wreck at Ashtabula, Ohio. His trunk, however, reached Chicago safely, as it had gone before by another train. In his trunk was discovered this hymn. Mr. Bliss had rearranged the words of the poem to some extent, and had composed the tune. Sentence by sentence, the words are full of pathetic interest in connection with the author’s sudden death so soon afterward.
Sankey, p. 165
I know not what awaits me,
God kindly veils mine eyes,
And o’er each step of my onward way
He makes new scenes to rise;
And ev’ry joy He sends me, comes
A sweet and glad surprise.
Refrain
Where He may lead me I’ll follow,
My trust in Him repose
And ev’ry hour in perfect peace
I’ll sing, He knows, He knows;
And ev’ry hour in perfect peace
I’ll sing, He knows, He knows.
One step I see before me,
’Tis all I need to see,
The light of Heav’n more brightly shines,
When earth’s illusions flee;
And sweetly through the silence, came
His loving Follow Me.
Refrain
O blissful lack of wisdom,
’Tis blessèd not to know;
He holds me with His own right hand,
And will not let me go,
And lulls my troubled soul to rest
In Him who loves me so.
Refrain
So on I go not knowing,
I would not if I might;
I’d rather walk in the dark with God
Than go alone in the light;
I’d rather walk in faith with Him
Than go alone by sight.
Refrain
He knows, He knows, He knows.