1 Where is the Friend for whom I'm ever yearning?
My longing grows when day to night is turning;
And though I find Him not as day recedeth
My heart still pleadeth.
2 When summer winds blow gently, then I hear Him;
Where sing the birds, where rush the streams I'm near Him.
But better far when in my heart He blesses
Me with caresses.
3 O where such beauty is itself revealing
In all that lives, through all creation stealing,
What must the source be whence it comes— the Giver?
Beauty forever.
4 And yet to hide Him oft a cloud prevaileth,
My prayer can reach Him, but my vision faileth;
Would I could see His face and heart so loving,
And cease my roving!
5 My soul, be strong! Hope, pray with self-denial!
The heavenly Friend submits Himself to trial:
So shalt thou find in Him, on Him depending,
Mercy unending.
Amen.
Source: The Hymnal #329
Johan Olaf Wallin was born at Stora Tuna, in 1779, and early displayed his poetical powers. In 1805, and again in 1809, he gained the chief prize for poetry at Upsala. In the latter year he became pastor at Solna; here his ability as a preacher was so striking that he was transferred to Stockholm, in 1815, as "pastor primarius," a title for which we have no exact equivalent. In 1818 he was made Dean of Westeras, and set about the task of editing a revised hymn-book for the whole of Sweden. This task he completed in 1819, and published it as, Den Swenska Psalmboken, af Konungen gillad och stadfästad (The Swedish hymn-book, approved and confirmed by the King). To it he contributed some 150 hymns of his own, besides translations and recasting… Go to person page >
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