I Dared Not Hope

I dared not hope that Thou wouldst deign to come

And make this low­ly heart of mine Thy home

That Thou wouldst deign

O King of kings

to be

E’en for one hour a so­journ­er in me;

Yet art Thou al­ways here to help

and bless

And lift the load of my great sin­ful­ness.

I dared not ev­er hope for such a guide

To walk with me my fal­ter­ing steps be­side

To help me when I fall

and when I stray

Constrain me gent­ly to the bet­ter way;

Yet art Thou al­ways at my side to be

A coun­sel­or and a com­fort­er to me.

I do not al­ways go where Thou dost lead

I do not al­ways Thy soft whis­pers heed;

I fol­low oth­er lights

and

in my sin

I vex with ma­ny a slight my friend with­in:

Yet Thou dost not

though grieved

from me de­part

But guard­est still Thy place with­in my heart.