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I WAS friendless, homeless, lonely, | |
| Sad as sinful heart could be; | |
| Drifting helpless, without anchor, | |
| Far upon a stormy sea, | |
| To the dark shores and the shipwreck, | 5 |
| Plainly that awaited me. | |
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| Father’s home I had forsaken, | |
| Breaking all its loving ties, | |
| And the swine’s husk I had eaten | |
| That no spirit satisfies; | 10 |
| I had hewed out broken cisterns, | |
| Fled to refuges of lies. | |
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| Then I thought that men were liars, | |
| Friends were fickle and unkind, | |
| Youth like sheep among the briars, | 15 |
| Which the briars have entwined | |
| But to rob the tender fleeces, | |
| And to close the path behind. | |
| |
| And I thought that God in anger, | |
| Had no pity for His child, | 20 |
| That He cared no more for sinners | |
| Suffering, sorrowing and beguiled; | |
| And my heart grew hard, despairing; | |
| And my way was more defiled. | |
| |
| Then I heard a voice proclaiming, | 25 |
| “Come and I will give you rest;” | |
| And I rose, and went desponding, | |
| And my sinful ways confessed; | |
| And the Father I had slighted | |
| Drew me fondly to His breast. | 30 |
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| O to think of angels singing, | |
| “Now the lost is found again!” | |
| O the wonder and the gladness | |
| Overcoming like a pain! | |
| Let Thy faithful love, O Father, | 35 |
| My faithless fainting heart sustain. | |
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