Verse 1
Long have I labour’d in the fire,
And spent my life for nought,
With pride, and anger, and desire,
In nature’s strength I fought.

Verse 2
Baffled I still my foes defied,
And rose with courage new,
All which the Lord commands, I cried,
I now resolve to do.

Verse 3
But O! How soon from glory driven,
Down to profoundest hell,
As Lucifer cast down from heaven,
From all my hopes I fell!

Verse 4
I fell, and sunk in self-despair,
I gave up all at last,
On Jesus then I cast my care,
On him my anchor cast.

Verse 5
With sin I strove alas! Too long,
But now I to the Lamb
Look, and am sav’d! In weakness strong,
While arm’d with Jesu’s name.

Verse 6
Jesu, to thee I now can fly,
On whom my help is laid,
Oppress’d by sins, I lift mine eye,
And see the shadows fade.

Verse 7
Soon as I find myself forsook,
The grace again is given,
A sigh will reach thy heart, a look
Will bring thee down from heaven.

Verse 8
Believing on my Lord, I find
A sure and present aid:
On thee alone my constant mind
Is every moment staid.

Verse 9
Whate’er in me seems wise, or good,
Or strong, I here disclaim;
I wash my garments in the blood
Of the atoning Lamb.

Verse 10
Jesus, my strength, my life, my rest,
On thee will I depend,
’Till summon’d to the marriage-feast,
Where faith in sight shall end.