Verse 1

COME, O Thou Traveller unknown, Whom still I hold, but cannot see! My company before is gone, And I am left alone with Thee; With Thee all night I mean to stay, And wrestle till the break of day.

Verse 2

I need not tell Thee who I am, My misery and sin declare; Thyself hast called me by my name, Look on Thy hands, and read it there: But who, I ask Thee, who art Thou? Tell me Thy name, and tell me now.

Verse 3

In vain Thou strugglest to get free; I never will unloose my hold! Art Thou the Man that died for me? The secret of Thy love unfold: Wrestling, I will not let Thee go, Till I Thy name, Thy nature know.

Verse 4

Wilt Thou not yet to me reveal Thy new, unutterable name? Tell me, I still beseech Thee, tell; To know it now resolved I am: Wrestling, I will not let Thee go, Till I Thy name, Thy nature know.

Verse 5

What though my shrinking flesh complain, And murmur to contend so long? I rise superior to my pain, When I am weak, then I am strong; And when my all of strength shall fail, I shall with the God-man prevail.

Verse 6

Yield to me now; for I am weak, But confident in self-despair Speak to my heart in blessings speak, Be conquered by my instant prayer; Speak, or Thou never hence shalt move, And tell me if Thy name is Love.

Verse 7

’Tis Love! ’tis Love! Thou diedst for me! I hear Thy whisper in my heart; The morning breaks, the shadows flee, Pure, universal Love Thou art; To me, to all, Thy mercies move: Thy nature and Thy name is Love.

Verse 8

My prayer hath power with God; the grace Unspeakable I know now receive; Through faith I see Thee face to face, I see Thee face to face, and live! In vain I have not wept and strove: Thy nature and Thy name is Love.

Verse 9

I know Thee, Saviour, who Thou art, Jesus, the feeble sinner’s Friend; Nor wilt Thou with the night depart, But stay and Love me to the end; Thy mercies never shall remove? Thy nature and Thy name is Love.

Verse 10

The Sun of Righteousness on me Hath risen with healing in His wings; Withered my nature’s strength, from Thee My soul its life and succour brings; My help is all laid up above: Thy nature and Thy name is Love. Contented now upon my thigh I halt, till life’s short journey end; All helplessness, all weakness, I On Thee alone for strength depend; Nor have I power from Thee to move: Thy nature and Thy name is Love.

Verse 11

Lame as I am, I take the prey, Hell, earth, and sin with ease o’ercome; I leap for joy, pursue my way, And as a bounding hart fly home, Through all eternity to prove Thy nature and Thy name is Love.

Background: Come O Thou Traveller Unknown Whom Still