5238 7. 8 7. 4 7
KEEP us, Lord, O keep us ever,
   Vain our hope if left by Thee;
We are Thine, O leave us never,
    Till Thy face in Heaven we see;
        There to praise Thee
    Through a vast eternity.
 
2  All our strength at once would fail us,
    If deserted, Lord, by Thee;
Nothing then could help or save us,
    Certain our defeat would be:
        Those against us
    Then their base desire would see.
 
3  But we look to Thee as able,
    Grace to give in time of need:
Heaven for us is sure and stable,
    Like the promise which we plead:
        ‘I will keep thee!’
    This is all our hope indeed.
 
Thomas Kelly, 1769-1855