(Friday, 6th March 2026)
[Verse 1]
How long, O Lord, shall grief be all my portion here below?
Why hast Thou taken joy from me, and left me nought but woe?
The sweetness of this earthly life seems to have vanished from my way;
By night and day, my burdened heart is filled with deep dismay.
[Verse 2]
I seem an orphan, left alone, with none to hear my cry;
No faithful friend remains to me, no kindly helper nigh.
To whom, O Lord, shall I now turn for counsel in my pain?
I bear reproach and bitter shame, and tears fall down like rain.
[Verse 3]
For Thy dear sake, I left behind the loved ones of my youth;
My heart has clung to Thee alone, to walk the path of truth.
Yet all I cherished hath been stripped and taken far from me;
O Lord my God, how long shall grief my daily portion be?
[Verse 4]
How long shall bitterness remain? How long this weary night?
Didst Thou not speak to Abraham, yet keep him waiting long for light?
The foe took hold within the wait, and mingled wrong with grace;
For hope deferred doth faint the heart in sorrow's dark embrace.
[Verse 5]
My heart grows weak within my breast, my strength is spent away;
As one by one the days go past, more weary grows my day.
This world hath given little, Lord, but trial, tears, and care;
The good I seek seems far from me, beyond my hand, somewhere.
[Verse 6]
Yet when my soul is cast down sore, I turn unto Thy Word;
Within Thy promise still I find the comfort of my Lord.
Remembering all Thy faithfulness, I gather strength anew,
And bid my trembling heart press on, still trusting, Lord, in Thee.
[Verse 7]
O Lord my God, let not my foes rejoice to see me fall;
Restore to me the joy of heart for which I daily call.
Remove reproach, take shame away, let gladness be restored;
And let me taste the good of Earth prepared by Thee, O Lord.
[Verse 8]
Thou madest all the Earth so fair for all Thy children here;
Let me at last behold Thy good, and walk without my fear.
And through the pathway of this life, whate'er my lot may be,
Let righteousness and mercy, Lord, still guide me home to Thee.
