How long, O Lord

How long, O Lord, how long?

p. 3
Key B-flat major
Singing key B♭ major
Time 2/2
7 stanzas

Words

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“ How long, O Lord, how long?”—
It was in heav’n
That prayerful voice was heard,
From souls forgiven.

Was heaven not enough?
Happy, secure,
Robed in eternal bliss
Would they have more.

Jesus! they would have more—
Even in bliss,
The souls expectant wait
More happiness.

They wait, even in heaven,
Impatiently,
To see this troubled world
At peace with thee.

They would behold their King,
Once crucified,
Mistrusted still, disowned,
And still denied,—

Jesus! they would behold
Thy work complete,
And misery and sin
Beneath thy feet.

And may not we, too, join
In heaven’s song ?
Should we alone not ask,
“ How long, how long?”

About this hymn

As printed As printed: a trio (two treble staves and a bass). Stanza 1 is set under the first treble staff, stanza 2 under the second treble staff and stanza 3 under the bass, each stanza running through both systems (lines 1–2 under system 1, lines 3–4 under system 2). Stanzas 4–7 are printed as text below the music, in two columns. Each stanza has four verse lines (long, short, long, short), as the printed layout of stanzas 4–7 shows.