Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847)
Abide with Me
"Abide with us: for it is towards evening, and the day is far spent."
Luke xxiv.29
1Abide with me! Fast falls the Eventide;
2The darkness thickens. Lord, with me abide
3When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
4Help of the helpless, O abide with me!
5Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
6Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away:
7Change and decay in all around I see.
8O Thou who changest not, abide with me!
9Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word;
10But as Thou dwellst with thy disciples, Lord,
11Familiar, condescending, patient, free, --
12Come, not to sojourn, but abide with me.
13Come not in terrors, as the King of kings;
14But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings,
15Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea.
16Come, Friend of sinners and thus bide with me.
17Thou on my head in early youth did smile,
18And though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
19Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee.
20On to the close, O Lord, abide with me!
21I need thy presence every passing hour.
22What but thy grace can foil the Tempter's power?
23Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?
24Through cloud and sunshine, O, abide with me!
25I fear no foe with thee at hand to bless;
26Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
27Where is death's sting? where grave thy victory?
28I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
29Hold then thy cross before my closing eyes;
30Speak through the gloom, and point me to the skies.
31Heaven's morning breaks, and Earth's vain shadows flee!
32In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me!
Notes
2] thickens: deepens (later versions).
17] did: didst (later versions).
24] O: Lord (later versions).
29] then: Thou (1868).
30] Speak: Shine (later versions).
Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.
Original text: B. G. Skinner, Henry Francis
Lyte: Brixham's Poet and Priest (Exeter: University of Exeter, 1974):
137-38. BV 330 L9S55 Robarts Library. This, the so-called "original manuscript"
that Lyte gave his daughter on the day of his final sermon, remains in the family. Cf.
The Poetical Works of the Rev. H. F.
Lyte, M.A., ed. John Appleyard (London: Elliot Stock, 1907): 35-36.
PR 4897 L6 A17 1907 Robarts Library
First publication date:
1847
RPO poem editor: Ian Lancashire
RP edition: 2001
Recent editing: 1:2002/10/5
Rhyme: aabb
Other poems by Henry Francis Lyte
