The Sav­ior in­vites you, poor wan­der­er, come,
The Fa­ther is wait­ing to wel­come you home;
Now cease from your wan­d’ring, so lone­ly and wild,
Return to your Fa­ther, O pro­di­gal child.

Refrain

O come, trem­bling mourn­er, oh, come, and be blest,
Here lay down your bur­den that you may find rest.
Be cleansed from your sin, and to God re­con­ciled,
Return to your Fa­ther, O pro­di­gal child.

Return to the Fa­ther who holds you so dear;
Say, why will you per­ish when plen­ty is near?
Tho’ poor and un­wor­thy, with sin all de­filed,
The Fa­ther will wel­come His pro­di­gal child.

Refrain

Poor wan­der­er, haste, for the night draw­eth nigh;
Say, will you lin­ger still there in dark­ness and die?
Oh, leave the lone de­sert, where sha­dows are piled;
Return to your Fa­ther, O pro­di­gal child.

Refrain