203 Light of the Gentile nations, Thy people's joy and love!

1 Light of the Gentile nations, Thy people's joy and love! Drawn by Thy Spirit hither, We gladly come to prove Thy presence in Thy temple, And wait with earnest mind, As Simeon once had waited His Savior God to find. 2 Yes, Lord, Thy servants meet Thee, E'en now, in every place Where Thy true word hath promised, That they should see Thy face. Thou yet wilt gently grant us, Who gather round Thee here, In faith's strong arms to bear Thee, As once that aged seer. 3 Be Thou our joy, our brightness, That shines 'mid pain and loss, Our sun in times of terror, The glory round our cross: A glow in sinking spirits, A sunbeam in distress, Physician, friend in sickness, In death our happiness. 4 Let us, O Lord, be faithful With Simeon to the end, That so his dying song may From all our hearts ascend: "O Lord, let now Thy servant Depart in peace for aye, Since I have seen my Savior, Have here beheld His day." 5 My Savior, I behold Thee Now with the eye of faith: No foe of Thee can rob me, Though bitter words be saith. Within my heart abiding As Thou dost dwell in me, No pain, no death hath terrors To part my soul from Thee!