1 When gathering clouds around I view,
And days are dark and friends are few,
On Him I lean, who not in vain,
Experienced every human pain;
He sees my wants, allays my fears,
And counts and treasures up my tears.

2 If aught should tempt my soul to stray
From heavenly wisdom’s narrow way,
To fly the good I would pursue,
Or do the ill I would not do,
Still He who felt temptation’s power,
Will guard me in that dangerous hour.

3 When vexing thoughts within me rise,
And sore dismayed my spirit dies,
Yet He, who once vouchsafed to bear
The dreadful anguish of despair,
Shall sweetly soothe, shall gently dry,
The throbbing heart, the streaming eye.

4 When sorrowing o’er some stone I bend,
Which covers all that was a friend--
And, from his hand, his voice, his smile,
Divides me for a little while-
My Savior marks the tears I shed,
For "Hesus wept" o’er Lazarus dead.

5 And, oh! when I have safely passed
Through every conflict but the last,
Still, Lord, unchanging, watch beside
My dying bed, for Thou hast died:
Then point to realms of cloudless day,
And wipe the latest tear way.