I saw, when the wind swept ov­er the mead,
The wil­low that stands by the brook;
Bending low, as, with pi­ti­less force, the storm
Threw down the un­bend­ing oak.

Refrain

Bend low till the storm pass­eth over,
The sun will shine out by and by;
Bend low till the storm pass­eth over,
And the stars twin­kle out in the sky.

The storm had passed by, the wil­low up­rose,
Her branch­es in beau­ty out­spread;
But the mon­arch of trees, in his pride cast down,
Lay prone on the earth and dead.

Refrain

O Christians, look up! life’s storms will soon pass;
Rejoice ye with sor­row low bowed;
Our Lord in His hand holds the light­ning’s shaft,
His smile is be­hind the cloud.

Refrain

And thou, who art proud, O turn ye in time,
Nor fall as the de­so­late tree!
God’s mer­cy, His in­fi­nite love are thine,
Awaiting, in­vit­ing thee.

Refrain