Early, My God, Without Delay

Early

my God

with­out de­lay

I haste to seek Thy face;

My thirs­ty spir­it faints away

Without Thy cheer­ing grace.

So pil­grims on the scorch­ing sand

Beneath a burn­ing sky

Long for a cool­ing stream at hand

And they must drink or die.

I’ve seen Thy glo­ry and Thy pow­er

Through all Thy tem­ple shine;

My God

re­peat that heav’n­ly hour

That vi­sion so di­vine.

Not all the bless­ings of a feast

Can please my soul so well

As when Thy rich­er grace I taste

And in Thy pre­sence dwell.

Not life it­self

with all her joys

Can my best pass­ions move

Or raise so high my cheer­ful voice

As Thy for­giv­ing love.

Thus till my last ex­pir­ing day

I’ll bless my God and king;

Thus will I lift my hands to pray

And tune my lips to sing.