A great hymn text from Canada
by James Lewis Milligan (1876-1961)
based upon Isaiah 40:3-11
No. 153 in The Hymn Book, 1971
There's a voice in the wilderness crying,
a call from the ways untrod:
Prepare in the desert a highway,
a highway for our God!
The valleys shall be exalted,
the lofty hills brought low:
make straight all the crooked places
where the Lord our God may go!
O Zion, that bringest good tidings,
get thee up to the heights and sing!
Proclaim to a desolate people
the coming of their King.
Like the flowers of the field they perish,
the works of men decay,
the power and pomp of nations
shall pass like a dream away;
But the word of our God endureth,
the arm of the Lord is strong;
he stands in the midst of nations,
and he will right the wrong.
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd,
and fold the lambs to his breast;
in pastures of peace he'll lead them,
and give to the weary rest.
There's a voice in the wilderness crying,
a call from the ways untrod:
Prepare in the desert a highway,
a highway for our God!
The valleys shall be exalted,
the lofty hills brought low:
make straight all the crooked places
where the Lord our God may go!
+Get thee up to the heights and sing!
