When my Savior, my Shepherd, is near,
How quickly my sorrows depart!
New beauties around me appear,
New spirits enliven my heart:
His presence gives peace to my soul,
And Satan assaults me in vain;
While my Shepherd his power controls,
I think I no more shall complain.
But alas, what a change do I find,
When my Shepherd withdraws from my sight!
Then my fears all return to my mind,
And my day is soon changed into night:
And the devil his efforts renews
To confound and ensnare me again;
All my pleasing enjoyments I lose,
And can only lament and complain.
By these changes I often pass thro’,
I am taught my own weakness to know;
I am taught what my Shepherd can do,
And how much to His mercy I owe:
It is He who supports me thro’ all,
When I faint He revives me again;
He attends to my prayer when I call,
And He bids me no longer complain.
O then why should I murmur and grieve?
Since my Shepherd is always the same,
And has promised He never will leave
Any soul that confides in His name:
To relieve me from all that I fear,
He was buffeted, tempted, and slain;
And at length He will surely appear,
Tho’ He leaves me awhile to complain.
While I dwell in the enemy’s land,
Can I hope to be always in peace?
’Tis enough that my Shepherd’s at hand,
And that shortly this warfare will cease;
For ere long He will bid me remove
From this region of sorrow and pain,
To abide in His presence above,
And then I no more shall complain.
