I Could Not Do Without Thee

I could not do with­out Thee

O Sav­ior of the lost!

Whose pre­cious blood re­deemed me

At such tre­men­dous cost.

Thy right­eous­ness

Thy par­don

Thy pre­cious blood

must be

My on­ly hope and com­fort

My glo­ry and my plea.

I could not do with­out Thee!

I can­not stand alone

I have no strength or good­ness

No wis­dom of my own;

But Thou

be­lov­èd Sav­ior

Art all in all to me

And weak­ness will be pow­er

If lean­ing hard on Thee.

I could not do with­out Thee

For

oh! the way is long

And I am oft­en wea­ry

And sigh re­plac­es song.

How could I do with­out Thee?

I do not know the way;

Thou know­est

and Thou lead­est

And wilt not let me stray.

I could not do with­out Thee

O Je­sus

Sav­ior dear!

E’en when my eyes are hold­en

I know that Thou art near.

How drea­ry and how lone­ly

This change­ful life would be

Without the sweet com­mun­ion

The sec­ret rest with Thee.

I could not do with­out Thee!

No oth­er friend can read

The spir­it’s strange deep long­ings

Interpreting its need;

No hu­man heart could en­ter

Each dim re­cess of mine

And soothe

and hush

and calm it

O bless­èd Lord

but Thine!

I could not do with­out Thee!

For years are fleet­ing fast

And soon in so­lemn lone­ness

[originally

so­lemn lone­li­ness]

The riv­er must be passed;

But Thou wilt nev­er leave me

And though the waves roll high

I know Thou wilt be near me

And whis­per

It is I.