The joy of the Lord is the strength of His people, The sunshine that scatters their sadness and gloom; The fountain that bursts in the desert of sorrow, And sheds o’er the wilderness gladness and bloom.
Refrain: Oh, the joy of the Lord is my strength and my song, Our sorrow and sighing are o’er; We’ll rejoice in the Lord, We’ll rejoice in the Lord, We’ll rejoice in the Lord evermore.
The joy of the Lord is our strength for life’s burdens, And gives to each duty a heavenly zest; It sets to sweet music the task of the toiler, And softens the couch of the laborer’s rest.
The joy of the Lord is our strength for life’s trials, And lifts the crushed heart above sorrow and care; Like the nightingale’s notes, it can sing in the darkness, And rejoice when the fig tree is fruitless and bare.
The joy of the Lord is our strength for temptation, And counts it the testing of patience and grace; It marches to battle with shouts of salvation, And rides o’er its foes in the chariots of praise.
The joy of the Lord is the strength of our service; It speaks in our faces and accents of love; It wins the sad world to the fullness of Jesus, And draws hungry hearts His salvation to prove.
