Lord! what a wretched land is this

General information

This is an hymn by Isaac Watts, from Hymns and Spiritual Songs, 1709, Hymn 53 of Book 2. Meter is 86. 86 (C.M.).

Settings by composers (automated)

• James P. Carrell — Arabia  English STB

 

Text and translations

English text 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 through all the ground, And mortal poisons grow, And all the rivers that are found With dangerous waters flow. 3. Yet the dear path to thine abode Lies through this horrid land; Lord! we would keep the heavenly road, And run at thy command.

4. Our souls shall tread the desert through 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; Through 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 forerunner waits, To welcome travelers home!

10. There on a green and flowery mount Our weary souls shall sit, And with transporting joys recount The labors 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 through; Our tongues shall never cease to sing, And endless praise renew.

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