My heart is weary with the world's distress,
The cry of those who struggle in the night.
Oh! Lord, who sent thy Son for our redress,
We pray thee as of old “Let there be light!”
I would not ask the “Why” nor pierce the veil;
All that I long for is to know, behind
The torture, and the terror, and the wail
Of human woe, there is no cruel, blind,
Unreasoning chance, that hurls us here and there,
Victims of an insensate tyranny;
I would not ask the cause, but this my prayer—
To know there is a cause for misery;
Could I but see the working of Thy Hand
I should be willing not to understand!