O Thou Great Friend

O Thou great friend to all the sons of men

Who once ap­peared in hum­blest guise be­low

Sin to re­buke

to break the cap­tive’s chain

To call the breth­ren forth from want and woe.

Thee would I sing: Thy truth is still the light

Which guides the na­tions grop­ing on their way

Stumbling and fall­ing in di­sas­trous night

Yet hop­ing ev­er for the per­fect day.

Yes

Thou art still the life; Thou art the way

The ho­li­est know—light

life and way of Heav’n;

And they who dear­est hope and deep­est pray

Toil by the truth

life

way that Thou hast giv’n.